Soups
Lotus Leaf Winter Melon Three-Bean Soup
traditionally used to clear summer heat, support urination, relieve dampness, and improve appetite
Why people make this soup
When summer heat is at its most relentless, people with weaker constitutions — the elderly, pregnant women, those carrying extra weight, or anyone managing thyroid or metabolic conditions — are more vulnerable to feeling overheated, fatigued, and bloated. Bro Niu recommends this soup as a practical, family-friendly way to support the body during that time. The combination of lotus leaf, winter melon, and three varieties of bean is a classic in Cantonese food therapy, and the result is a light, slightly sweet broth that cools without being harsh on the digestion.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family, including children, during hot and humid weather.
- Those feeling mentally foggy, lacking appetite, slightly swollen, or running a mild low-grade heat (not a flu fever) may find it particularly helpful.
- Pregnant women: omit the hyacinth beans if preferred, and avoid adding Job’s tears (yi mi / barley) — Bro Niu notes it can stimulate uterine contraction.
- For gout sufferers: replace the mung beans and hyacinth beans with fresh Job’s tears (raw barley) — this is Bro Niu’s specific recommendation.
- Red beans or lima beans (mei dou) can substitute if mung beans or hyacinth beans are unavailable.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Lotus leaf (he ye): One of the most recognisable summer herbs in Cantonese cooking. Traditionally associated with clearing summer heat, easing the sensation of heaviness, and mildly supporting digestion. Fresh leaf has a particularly clean fragrance; dried works just as well.
- Winter melon (dong gua) with skin: The skin is kept on in this recipe because it contains many of the diuretic compounds. Winter melon is one of the most cooling and moisture-clearing vegetables used in Cantonese soups.
- Adzuki beans (chi xiao dou): A classic dampness-clearing ingredient; supports fluid metabolism and mild swelling.
- Mung beans (lu dou): Cooling and detoxifying; widely used in Chinese food therapy for summer heat complaints.
- Hyacinth / flat beans (bian dou): Neutral in temperature, these gently strengthen the spleen and stomach while helping to clear dampness.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh lotus leaf (he ye) | 1 large sheet | Dried works too; cut into pieces |
| Winter melon with skin | 600 g | Washed and cut into chunks |
| Adzuki beans (chi xiao dou) | 38 g | Soaked and rinsed |
| Mung beans (lu dou) | 38 g | Soaked and rinsed |
| Hyacinth / flat beans (bian dou) | 38 g | Soaked and rinsed |
Method
- Rinse the lotus leaf (fresh or dried) and cut into pieces.
- Wash the winter melon and leave the skin on — it contains the most beneficial compounds. Cut into large chunks.
- Rinse the adzuki beans, mung beans, and hyacinth beans; soak for 30 minutes if time allows.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot with 7 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour, until approximately 4 bowls of liquid remain.
- Serve with the solids — eat the beans and melon along with the broth.
Bro Niu’s tips
Lean meat can be added if you prefer a more filling soup — it does not significantly change the function of the broth. This soup is especially helpful on hot and muggy days when someone feels a low-grade stuffiness or warmth without being genuinely ill with a cold or flu. For children, it is also associated in traditional use with supporting the body’s resistance during hand, foot, and mouth disease season — though of course it is not a treatment.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (reader): Bro Niu, can I drink this soup after getting a flu shot? Bro Niu: Yes, you can drink this winter melon soup after a flu shot — no problem.
-
Q (reader): Bro Niu, if I don’t have mung beans or adzuki beans, can I use red beans and lima beans instead? Bro Niu: Yes, red beans and lima beans are perfectly fine substitutes.
-
Q (Karen): Bro Niu, can someone with gout drink this? Bro Niu: For gout, replace the mung beans and hyacinth beans with 1 liang of raw barley — that combination is actually more beneficial for gout.
Published June 5, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
