Soups
Hairy Gourd, Soybean, Golden Dried Oyster and Pork Rib Soup
Traditionally taken to support the liver and gallbladder
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu picked up some plump golden dried oysters at a local food expo and built this soup around them. Dried oysters are rich in nutrients — including vitamin B12, which many foods lack — and after the tenth lunar month they carry more glycogen and taurine, which is why they are traditionally valued for supporting the liver and gallbladder. The soup itself is savoury and fresh, neither heating nor cooling, so most of the family can enjoy it.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people who feel run-down, or who have yin-deficiency restlessness, heat-related insomnia or an unsettled mind. Often welcomed by all ages.
- Not suitable for people with gout. If you have gallstones or another diagnosed condition, please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Golden dried oysters (jin hao): nutrient-dense, a source of vitamin B12, and traditionally associated with supporting the liver and gallbladder and the body’s blood-making function.
- Hairy gourd (jie gua): a mild, fresh gourd that keeps the soup light and balanced.
- Soybeans (huang dou): nourishing and savoury; said to add calcium to the soup.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): warms and rounds out the flavour.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hairy gourd | 1 | Skin scraped off, cut into chunks |
| Soybeans | ~75 g | Soaked and rinsed |
| Golden dried oysters | ~75 g | Soaked and rinsed |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Pork ribs | ~300 g | Blanched |
Method
- Scrape the skin off the hairy gourd and cut into chunks. Soak and rinse the soybeans and dried oysters separately.
- Blanch the pork ribs.
- Put everything in a pot with 9 bowls of water and simmer for 2 hours until reduced to about 4–5 bowls. Eat both the soup and the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is calcium-rich. It is not suitable for people with gout. If you cannot find hairy gourd, you can swap in winter melon or chayote.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (MoMo): If I have no hairy gourd, what can I use instead? Bro Niu: You can use winter melon or chayote.
Published January 8, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
