Soups
Fresh Lily Bulb, Water Chestnut and Dried Pear Sweet Soup
Traditionally clears the heart and moistens the lungs
Why people make this sweet soup
Bro Niu here. When the Olympics come around, plenty of friends end up watching matches deep into the night, and after a few late nights the body tends to run hot and irritable — red eyes, a bitter mouth, mouth ulcers, puffy gums, breakouts, a short temper. During spells like this it is best to step away from warming tonic herbs and lean toward gentle, cooling, moistening soups instead. This light, sweet bowl is my pick for exactly that mood.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People who have been burning the midnight oil and feel hot, dry and restless
- It is gentle and sweet, suitable for young and old
- Anyone watching their sugar intake should go easy on the rock sugar
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh lily bulb (bai he): Traditionally said to clear the heart, calm the spirit, nourish yin and moisten the lungs.
- Water chestnut (ma ti): Traditionally associated with cooling heat and generating fluids.
- Dried pear (xue li gan): Traditionally used to moisten the lungs and soothe a dry throat.
Ingredients (3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh lily bulbs | 2 | Separate the scales and rinse well |
| Water chestnuts | 6–8 | Peel and slice |
| Dried pear slices | 8–10 | Soak, rinse and remove any core |
| Rock sugar | To taste | Added at the end |
Method
- Separate the lily bulb scales and rinse clean. Peel and slice the water chestnuts. Soak and rinse the dried pear, removing any core.
- Put all the ingredients into 7 bowls of water and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add rock sugar and stir until dissolved, reducing to about 3 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This sweet soup is naturally sweet and pleasant, fine for young and old. If you cannot find fresh lily bulbs, you can substitute about 40 g (1 liang) of the dried kind.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Koey): My child is two and a half, caught a cold a few days ago with a runny nose and a heavy, phlegmy cough, and keeps coughing awake at night. The phlegm is easing now but the night cough sounds dry — what can I make? Bro Niu: The lily, water chestnut and dried pear tea pictured here is fine for children. If the cough is from post-nasal drip, you can add 8 magnolia flowers (xin yi hua), but put them in toward the end of cooking.
Published July 21, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
