Soups
Old Cucumber, Red Bean, Hyacinth Bean & Fig Pork Shin Soup
Traditionally associated with clearing heat, easing damp, and supporting immunity
Why people make this soup
Old cucumber is a wonderful soup ingredient, traditionally associated with clearing heat, cooling in summer, and easing damp. Even though it is now deep autumn, the weather can still run hot, and old cucumber is also valued for supporting immunity. With flu going around, Bro Niu likes pairing old cucumber with red beans, hyacinth beans, and figs in a soup that suits people feeling weighed-down and tired by damp, with lower immunity, or living with the “three highs.”
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People who feel heavy and tired from damp, who have lower immunity, or who live with the “three highs.”
- Naturally sweet and gentle — the whole family, young and old, can drink it.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Old cucumber (lao huang gua): Traditionally associated with clearing heat, cooling in summer, easing damp, and supporting immunity.
- Red beans (chi xiao dou) & hyacinth beans (bian dou): Classic pairing traditionally used to help drain damp.
- Dried figs (wu hua guo): Add natural sweetness and body to the soup.
- Pork shin (zhu zhan): A lean cut that makes a clean, savoury base.
Ingredients (about 5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old cucumber | 1 | Pith removed, cut into chunks |
| Red beans | 1 tael (~38 g) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Hyacinth beans | 1 tael (~38 g) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Dried figs | 4 | Halved |
| Pork shin | 1 piece | Cut and blanched |
Method
- Remove the pith from the old cucumber and cut into chunks.
- Soak and rinse the red beans and hyacinth beans.
- Halve the figs.
- Cut the pork shin and blanch.
- Combine all ingredients with 8 bowls of water and simmer for about 1.5 hours until reduced to 5 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
The pith and juice scraped from the old cucumber are traditionally said to brighten and soothe the skin — you can dab them on the face or soak your hands for softer skin. This soup is naturally sweet and tasty, and the whole family, young and old, can drink it.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (anonymous): If I do not have old cucumber, what can I use instead? Bro Niu: You can use kudzu root (fen ge) or chayote (he zhang gua) instead.
- Q (Mandy): Are dried, hardened figs good for soup? Bro Niu: Dried figs work just as well — no problem at all.
- Q (Ling): TV ads keep advertising cordyceps as good for the lungs and nasal allergies. If I do not have those issues, what good does eating cordyceps do? Bro Niu: If your finances allow, cordyceps is a fine tonic, naturally helpful for nasal allergies and beneficial to the lungs and kidneys. For ordinary households who cannot afford the pricey kind, cordyceps flowers or cordyceps spore heads make good substitutes.
Published October 19, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
