Soups
Kudzu, Three-Bean and Job's-Tears Pork Rib Soup
Traditionally clears heat, drains damp and supports resilience
Why people make this soup
With weather swinging between sun and rain and more flu about, Bro Niu reminds everyone to mind their hygiene, wear a mask on transport and in crowds, and simmer some heat-clearing, damp-draining soup at home as a sensible habit. Kudzu root, sometimes called “southern ginseng,” is traditionally used to support the vessels and the liver and is associated with healthy blood sugar and blood lipids, as well as easing the tight neck-and-shoulder feeling of an early cold. Combined with mung bean, adzuki bean, flat bean and job’s-tears, this soup is traditionally used to clear heat, drain damp and support resilience.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People wanting to clear heat and damp in muggy weather, or minding the three highs; also seen as helpful for those who drink a lot
- Those with a cold, weak digestion should avoid it, or add extra chen pi, red dates and ginger to temper the cooling nature (see Q&A)
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Kudzu root (fen ge): traditionally used to support the vessels and ease neck-and-shoulder tightness in early colds
- Mung bean (lü dou): classically associated with clearing heat
- Adzuki bean and job’s-tears (chi xiao dou, yi mi): traditionally used to support the spleen and drain damp
- Chen pi and honey dates (chen pi, mi zao): balance the flavour and ease the cooling tendency
Ingredients (5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kudzu root | ~600 g (1 jin) | peel skin off, cut in chunks |
| Mung beans | ~38 g (1 liang) | soaked and rinsed |
| Adzuki beans | ~38 g (1 liang) | soaked and rinsed |
| Raw job’s-tears | ~38 g (1 liang) | soaked and rinsed |
| Honey dates | 2 | |
| Dried tangerine peel | 1 piece | soaked and rinsed |
| Pork ribs | ~300 g (half jin) | blanched |
Method
- Peel the skin off the kudzu root, wash and cut into chunks.
- Soak and rinse the three beans, the job’s-tears and the chen pi; blanch the pork ribs.
- Put everything in a pot with 9 bowls of water and simmer 2 hours down to 5 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clean and sweet, fine for young and old, and is also traditionally seen as helpful for those minding the three highs or who drink a lot — but those with a cold, weak digestion should avoid it.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Mrs Wu): I bought all the ingredients and only then saw it’s not for cold-stomach people — can I add anything to make up for it? Bro Niu: Add an extra piece of chen pi and cook in some red dates and ginger to reduce the cooling nature.
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Q (anonymous): Kudzu root is so hard — how do I cut it? Bro Niu: Split it lengthwise rather than crosswise. Because it’s so hard, break it into a few pieces lengthwise first, then cut crosswise and it comes apart much more easily.
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Q (Catherine Lin): Lately I have heat sores at the corners of my mouth and some acne-like spots around the private area and bottom. Any food-therapy soup? Bro Niu: Use adzuki bean, mung bean, job’s-tears and honey dates in a kudzu-and-lean-pork soup, traditionally used to clear heat and drain damp from the body.
Published May 10, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
