Soups
Hairy Melon, Hyacinth Bean and Pan-Fried Small Sea Fish Soup
traditionally used to strengthen the spleen, support the kidneys, promote fluid drainage, and ease postpartum constipation
Why people make this soup
Small fresh sea fish — varieties like red grouper (hong shan), mullet, and similar small saltwater fish — make wonderfully sweet and flavoursome soups, particularly when pan-fried first until golden. Paired with hairy melon (jie gua) for its moistening, fluid-regulating properties, and hyacinth beans (mei dou) for spleen support, this becomes a light but genuinely nourishing everyday soup. Bro Niu also recommends it for postpartum women who have become constipated from eating too many warming tonic foods — the hairy melon and beans help restore balance.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family as an everyday soup
- Particularly beneficial for those with mild fluid retention (adding a whole head of garlic can enhance this effect)
- Good for postpartum women who have eaten too many warming tonics and are now constipated
- Adding garlic (a whole head, unpeeled) during cooking further supports fluid drainage
- Dried hyacinth beans stir-fried in a dry wok before use will enhance their spleen-strengthening effect
- Pregnant women can drink hairy melon with dried mussel soup without concern
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Hairy melon (jie gua): Gentle and cooling; traditionally used to moisten the bowels, support fluid regulation, and clear mild heat from the digestive system — one of the most baby-friendly and elderly-friendly Cantonese vegetables
- Hyacinth beans (mei dou / eye beans): Strengthen the spleen, resolve dampness, and support the kidneys; Bro Niu notes that dry-frying them first in a clean wok (without oil) activates their warming, stomach-strengthening properties
- Small sea fish: Pan-frying before adding to the soup creates a deeply savoury, slightly golden broth; sea fish of any small variety are nourishing and easy to digest
- Ginger: Three slices add warmth and help balance the slightly cooling nature of the hairy melon
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hairy melon (jie gua) | 2 medium | Scrape off the outer fuzz, cut into thick rounds or wedges |
| Hyacinth beans (mei dou) | ~75 g (2 liang) | Soak and rinse; dry-fry in a clean wok before use for enhanced effect |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Small fresh sea fish | 4–5 fish, ~200–300 g | Clean and gut; pan-fry in a little oil until golden before adding to the soup pot |
| Cooking oil | small amount | For pan-frying the fish |
| Water | 8 bowls | Simmer down to 4 bowls |
Optional: If reducing water retention, add 1 whole head of garlic (unpeeled) during cooking.
Method
- Soak the hyacinth beans for 20–30 minutes and rinse. For enhanced effect, dry-fry in a clean wok (no oil) for a few minutes before use.
- Clean and gut the small sea fish. Pat dry.
- Heat a little oil in a pan or wok. Pan-fry the fish over medium heat until golden on both sides — about 3–4 minutes per side.
- Scrape the outer layer of the hairy melon and cut into thick pieces.
- Place the pan-fried fish, hyacinth beans, hairy melon, and ginger slices into a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 1 hour until about 4 bowls of soup remain.
- Season lightly with salt if desired. Drink the soup; the melon and beans are also good to eat.
Bro Niu’s tips
Hyacinth beans dry-fried in a clean wok (without oil) take on a warmer, more stomach-strengthening quality — this is a simple step worth doing. If you want to reduce water retention more actively, add a whole unpeeled head of garlic directly into the pot during simmering. Postpartum women who have eaten too many warming tonic foods and are now constipated will find this soup helpful — the hairy melon and beans gently restore balance without being harsh.
Published January 21, 2013 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
