Soups
Old Cucumber, Mung Bean, Job's Tears & Dried Scallop Soup
Traditionally used to clear lingering heat and support recovery after a cold
Why people make this soup
Old cucumber has thick, firm skin and flesh, so it’s not for stir-fries — it’s a soup vegetable through and through. In tradition it’s used to clear heat, drain dampness, ease swelling and soothe a dry mouth, which makes it a favourite for people who feel damp or run hot. Just after a cold, when a little residual heat lingers, you often feel drained and listless — but it’s too soon for rich tonic soups. Pairing old cucumber with cooling mung bean and Job’s tears, plus savoury dried scallop, gives you a soup that clears that leftover heat while gently supporting the body. This is one of Bro Niu’s go-to recovery soups.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People recovering from a cold who still feel tired and a bit “warm” inside
- Those who tend to be damp or run hot
- If your constitution is on the cold side, add 3 slices of ginger when cooking
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Old cucumber (lao huang gua): traditionally clears heat, drains dampness and soothes a dry, thirsty mouth.
- Mung bean (lü dou): long associated with clearing heat and gently detoxifying.
- Job’s tears (yi mi): classic for draining dampness and supporting water metabolism.
- Dried scallop (yao zhu): adds savoury depth and a touch of nourishment.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old cucumber | 1 | halved, seeds scraped out, cut into chunks |
| Mung beans (lü dou) | ~38 g | rinsed and soaked |
| Job’s tears (yi mi) | ~38 g | rinsed and soaked |
| Honey dates (mi zao) | 2 | |
| Dried scallops (yao zhu) | 4 | rinsed and soaked, keep the soaking water |
Method
- Wash the old cucumber, split it open and scrape out the seeds, then cut into chunks.
- Rinse and soak the mung beans, Job’s tears and dried scallops separately.
- Add all ingredients, including the scallop soaking water, to 8 bowls of water and simmer for 2 hours down to 4–5 bowls. Eat the soup along with the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is light and pleasant — fine for young and old. If your constitution is on the cold side, add 3 slices of fresh ginger. And don’t waste the cucumber pulp and juice you scraped out: soak your hands in it for a brightening, softening effect on the skin.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (May): Bro Niu, if I’m a cold-constitution person, can this soup still include mung beans? Also, I often feel very hot — even in an air-conditioned mall, or waking at night with the AC on — then I cool down again. Any way to improve this? Bro Niu: A cold constitution can swap in rice bean (chi xiao dou). You sound like a yin-deficient type; try wolfberry root bark (di gu pi, the root of goji) ~19 g boiled with goji berries, goji leaves and lean pork — it helps clear deficiency-heat.
- Q (Mrs Mak): After a cold last week my nose was blocked, then runny mucus kept pooling in my nose. Western medicine didn’t help, and Chinese medicine yesterday didn’t stop it either. Any soup or steeped drink to improve it? Bro Niu: Use a small pinch of mint leaves (~4 fresh stems) plus 8 magnolia flowers (xin yi hua), snipped open; boil in 3 bowls of water for 5 minutes and drink, 2–3 doses. Adding 3 spring-onion whites makes it even better.
- Q (Elisa): Good morning, I’m 70 and just found I have fatty liver. Any food therapy, and what should I watch in daily life? Bro Niu: Besides avoiding high-fat, greasy food, get enough sleep and don’t stay up late. You can steep goji, ophiopogon (mai dong) and chrysanthemum (1 tbsp each) as a tea; or hawthorn, chrysanthemum and stir-fried cassia seed (chao jue ming zi), 1 tbsp each. These simple teas are easy to use day to day.
Published September 25, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
