Mung Bean, Coix Seed, Old Cucumber and Carrot Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

As summer arrives and the heat builds, many people notice their skin flaring — breakouts, congested pores, that heavy feeling in the body. In Cantonese food therapy, these are signs of accumulated heat and dampness that need to be cleared from the inside out. Old (mature) yellow cucumber is a particularly good ingredient for this: as the cucumber ripens fully on the vine, it concentrates water and fibre that act as natural diuretics, and develops plant sterols that support cholesterol balance. Combined with mung beans — perhaps the most reliable heat-clearing legume in the Cantonese pantry — and raw coix seeds for dampness relief, this soup addresses several overlapping summer complaints at once, from sluggish skin to a heavy, bloated feeling.

Method

1. Soak the mung beans and coix seeds in water for 30 minutes, then rinse and drain.
2. Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and soft pulp from the centre of the old cucumber; cut the cucumber into rough chunks (leave the skin on for better flavour and nutrients).
3. Peel the carrot and cut into chunks.
4. Blanch the lean pork in boiling water briefly and drain.
5. Place all ingredients into a pot with 2.4 L of water.
6. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until reduced to about 1.2 L.
7. Serve warm. Eat the broth and the solid ingredients together — the pork, carrot and mung beans are all good to eat.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup is fragrant and lightly sweet — easy for the whole family to enjoy. It is also helpful for those with gut-related skin breakouts (暗疮). Remember: pregnant women should replace the coix seeds with dried hyacinth bean (bian dou) or lima bean (mei dou). For those outside the region who cannot find old yellow cucumber, winter melon is the best substitute — keep the skin on for more benefit; cucumber can also be used, no need to remove the inner seeds.