Soups
Hairy Gourd, Black-Eyed Bean, Shiitake and Pork Shin Soup
Traditionally used to clear summer heat, support the spleen, and drain damp
Why people make this soup
On scorching days, melon-and-gourd soups are the natural choice for cooling and refreshing — but melons can be quite cooling, and some people with a weaker, cold-leaning spleen-stomach, dull complexion or puffy under-eyes can’t tolerate them. Hairy gourd is the gentler answer: a tender cousin of winter melon that is only mildly cooling, traditionally associated with supporting the spleen, draining damp and easing fluid retention.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with poor summer appetite, tiredness and fatigue, dry mouth and thirst, or puffy limbs; and those who find regular melon soups too cooling.
- Generally gentle and family-friendly. Note: people with gout should use only adzuki beans among the legumes (see Q&A). If you have a medical condition, please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Hairy gourd (jie gua): A tender winter-melon variety, only mildly cooling; traditionally associated with supporting the spleen, draining damp, and promoting urination.
- Black-eyed beans (mei dou): Traditionally linked with supporting the spleen-stomach and the kidney system.
- Shiitake (dong gu): Fragrant and tasty; traditionally associated with supporting the liver and digestion.
- Pork shin (zhu zhan): Provides a savory, nourishing base.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hairy gourd (jie gua) | 1–2 | Scraped, washed, cubed |
| Black-eyed beans (mei dou) | ~37.5 g (1 liang) | Soaked, rinsed |
| Dried shiitake (dong gu) | 4–5 | Soaked soft, stems removed |
| Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) | 3 slices | |
| Pork shin (zhu zhan) | ~300 g (half a jin) | Cubed, blanched |
Method
- Scrape, wash and cube the hairy gourd; soak and rinse the beans; soak the shiitake soft and trim the stems.
- Cube the pork shin and blanch.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Simmer about 1.5 hours, reducing to 4 bowls. Eat the soup with the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
Hairy gourd is in season now and inexpensive. Choose ones with bright-green, slightly fuzzy skin, plump and rounded, and of medium length.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Juan): Can I eat the soup ingredients after cooking? And if there is gout, can this hairy-gourd, black-eyed bean and shiitake soup be drunk? Bro Niu: Of course you can eat the soup ingredients. For gout, among the legumes only adzuki beans are suitable, since they are low in purines and traditionally associated with helping curb uric acid.
- Q (Ting Ting): Before my period my eyelids feel heavy, I get occasional dizziness and feel very tired. Any food-therapy to help? Bro Niu: Try a “four-spirits” pork-rib soup. The main ingredients are Chinese yam (huai shan), lotus seed, gorgon fruit (qian shi) and poria (fu ling), 5 qian each, plus 5 red dates, with pork ribs or shin — the family can drink it, and it’s best to eat the ingredients too.
Published July 24, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
