Papaya, Coconut, Snow Fungus, Hai Yu Zhu & Corn Soup

Why people make this soup

Nourilo has a friend, a lifelong vegetarian now past 70, whose skin is genuinely lovely — no spots, few wrinkles. Her secret? Besides avoiding fried, crispy and spicy food, she often cooks moistening, complexion-loving soups, like papaya, snow fungus and apricot-kernel sweet soup. With the weather turning very dry, Nourilo picked up papaya and snow fungus, plus a mini coconut and corn, and pairs them with yin-nourishing, fluid-generating hai yu zhu. The result is clear, sweet and comforting against dryness.

Method

1. Peel, deseed and cut the papaya; slice the mini coconut; husk and cut the corn; soak and rinse the snow fungus and hai yu zhu, and trim the stem from the snow fungus.
2. Put everything in a pot with 2.4 L of water.
3. Simmer 1 hour until reduced to 1.2–1.5 L. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup moistens and nourishes the complexion while harmonising qi and blood — nourishing but not “heaty,” making it ideal for dry weather.