Soups
Cabbage and Mung Bean Soup
traditionally associated with clearing heat, supporting immunity, and soothing sore throats
Why people make this soup
When the seasons change and respiratory illnesses circulate, many families in Hong Kong and southern China turn to this unpretentious little soup. It costs almost nothing to make, uses ingredients that are easy to find, and has no strong herbal taste — which makes it especially friendly for children. Baby bok choy brings a wealth of vitamins and minerals, while mung beans have long been prized in Chinese food culture for their ability to clear heat and support the body’s natural defences. The candied jujubes add a gentle sweetness and, importantly, temper the cooling nature of the beans so the soup is less harsh on sensitive stomachs. Bro Niu recommends eating the solids — not just drinking the broth — to get the full benefit.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family; even infants from around 1 year old can have small amounts.
- Particularly helpful during dry, warm weather or respiratory virus seasons.
- Good for those with lung heat coughs, tendency toward constipation, or skin prone to blemishes.
- People with a cold, weak digestive constitution (spleen-stomach deficiency) should add a piece of dried tangerine peel (chen pi) or a few slices of fresh ginger to warm the soup slightly.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Baby bok choy (xiao bai cai): Among the most vitamin- and mineral-dense of the common Chinese vegetables. It is higher in calcium, vitamin C, and beta-carotene than regular large-leaf cabbage. In food therapy it is valued for supporting the body’s fluid balance, easing heat and irritability, and gently promoting healthy digestion.
- Mung beans (lv dou): A cornerstone of Chinese heat-clearing food therapy. The proteins, tannins, and flavonoids in mung beans are associated in traditional use with binding and neutralising certain harmful compounds, protecting the gut lining, and supporting the body’s natural detoxification. Combined with moist heat during cooking, their cooling effect is partly moderated.
- Candied jujubes (mi zao): These sweet-dried jujubes do double duty — they add pleasant sweetness without sugar, and they temper the strongly cooling nature of the mung beans, making the soup gentler on the digestive system for longer cooking.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baby bok choy | ~300 g | Washed thoroughly |
| Mung beans | ~75 g (2 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Candied jujubes (mi zao) | 2 pieces | |
| Water | 7–8 bowls (~1.75 L) |
Method
- Wash the baby bok choy well. Soak and rinse the mung beans.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 7–8 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 1 hour, until the liquid reduces to about 3–4 bowls.
- Serve — eat both the soup and the cooked vegetables and beans.
Bro Niu’s tips
Baby bok choy is among the most nutritious common vegetables available, richer in calcium, vitamin C, and beta-carotene than large-leaf cabbage. This soup also benefits those with lung heat coughs, constipation, or a tendency toward skin breakouts. If you have a cold or weak digestion, or if you are cooking this for young children in cooler months, add a piece of dried tangerine peel or a couple of ginger slices to balance the cooling qualities. The soup can be cooked with lean pork for extra body and flavour — it does not diminish the effect at all.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (叶太): How old do children need to be before they can drink this? Bro Niu: Since this soup contains only ordinary food ingredients (no herbal medicines), even a 1-year-old can have it.
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Q (Celine): My 17-month-old is healthy at the moment — can she drink this for prevention? I’m worried it might be too cooling. Bro Niu: Yes, a 17-month-old can drink this as a preventive measure during flu season. If you are concerned about it being too cooling, add an extra piece of dried tangerine peel (chen pi) when cooking.
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Q (polly): My 3-year-old has tonsillitis and a fever. Can she drink this? Bro Niu: The soup is fine for tonsillitis. For fever, however, you must see a doctor.
Published January 1, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
