Huai Yam, Euryale Seed & Crocodile Meat Soup

Why people make this soup

Some children seem to catch every cold that passes through their classroom, and after each illness they are left weakened and coughing again before they have fully recovered. Some older adults who smoked for years are dealing with a similar pattern — a chronic cough and shortness of breath that never quite go away. In both cases, Chinese food therapy points to a depletion of the spleen, lung, and kidney systems, which in turn creates persistent phlegm and reduced respiratory resilience.

Crocodile meat is an unusual but traditional Cantonese ingredient — dried crocodile meat has been used in soups and stews for generations, specifically valued for its reputation of supporting the lungs and kidneys. Nourilo notes that the flavour of this soup is genuinely delicious, which makes it one of those rare remedies that people actually look forward to drinking. One reader commented that after following this recipe weekly for several months, she no longer heard her family member’s persistent cough — a testimonial Nourilo finds heartening.