Fresh Lotus Leaf, Winter Melon and Green Bean Dampness-Clearing Soup

Why people make this soup

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral illness that tends to circulate every summer in subtropical Asia, primarily affecting children under five. It presents with fever, oral blisters that cause pain on eating, and a rash of spots or blisters on the hands, feet, and buttocks. Because the mouth sores make swallowing painful, children often refuse food — and a cool, clear, gently sweet soup is one of the few things they will accept.

In Chinese food therapy, this combination of lotus leaf, winter melon, and cooling legumes addresses what is called “damp-heat” — the pattern most associated with summer infectious illnesses. Nourilo recommends this soup not only for children already unwell but for the whole family as a preventive measure during outbreak season: a healthy spleen and digestive system is considered the best defence against viral intestinal pathogens in traditional thinking.

Method

1. Wash the winter melon and cut into chunky pieces — leave the skin and seeds on.
2. Rinse the lotus leaf and cut or tear into pieces. (Use half a leaf if you prefer a milder flavour.)
3. Soak and rinse the mung beans, flat white beans, and coix seed.
4. Rinse the honey dates.
5. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 2.4 L of water.
6. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours.
7. Important: for sick children, allow the soup to cool completely before serving — hot liquid over mouth sores is painful.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup is nicely fragrant from the fresh lotus leaf. Fresh lotus leaves are available at Chinese or Asian grocers in summer, and at some farmers markets and specialty food stores. If you are making this for a child recovering from HFMD, wait until the soup is fully cooled before giving it to them. You can add pork ribs or lean pork if you want a more substantial family soup. If fresh lotus leaf is unavailable, a dried lotus leaf can be substituted.