Old Cucumber, Mung Bean and Pork Rib Soup

Why people make this soup

In hot, humid weather — especially for people who have to wear a face mask all day — the skin around the jaw and cheeks is under constant stress: sweat, friction, and trapped heat. Breakouts and eczema flares become more common. This soup uses a ripe, yellow-skinned cucumber (not the young green one you eat in salads, but the same plant left to fully mature until its skin turns yellow and its seeds are large) which is considerably richer in antioxidants than its young counterpart. Bro Niu also has a personal tip: when scooping out the seeds and pulp to prepare the soup, he saves the cucumber liquid in a bowl and uses it as a facial compress or hand soak after cooking — naturally cooling, anti-inflammatory, and mildly brightening. Mung beans are one of the most trusted heat-clearing, skin-supporting ingredients in Cantonese cooking. Together they make a soup that is also helpful for people managing weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• People with acne or eczema flares, particularly in hot, humid conditions.
• Suitable for those with obesity, elevated blood sugar, blood fat, or blood pressure.
• Safe for the whole family as a summer cooling soup.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Old (mature) yellow cucumber (lao huang gua): When the cucumber is allowed to ripen fully, its skin turns yellow and its nutrient profile deepens. Rich in vitamin E and cucurbitacin C — associated with anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory effects, and suppressing the conversion of sugars to fats (relevant for weight management).
• Mung beans (lv dou): One of the most commonly used Cantonese ingredients for clearing heat and detoxifying the body; associated with cooling skin conditions, summer heat relief, and supporting the liver.
• Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Supports digestion and helps the body absorb the soup’s nutrients; prevents the cooling ingredients from being overly harsh on the stomach.
• Pork ribs (pai gu): Adds body, protein, and depth of flavour to the broth. Can be substituted with lean pork shank.

Ingredients (~4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Old (mature) yellow cucumber	1 whole	Seeds scooped out, cut into chunks
Mung beans	~75 g	Soaked and rinsed
Dried tangerine peel	1 piece	Soaked and rinsed
Pork ribs	~300 g	Blanched to remove impurities

Method

1. Wash the old cucumber, scoop out the seeds and inner pulp (save the liquid for skin care if desired), and cut the flesh into chunks.
2. Soak and rinse the mung beans and tangerine peel.
3. Blanch the pork ribs in boiling water briefly; drain and discard the water.
4. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 1.5 hours until reduced to approximately 4 bowls.
6. Serve.

Bro Niu’s tips

• Save the cucumber seeds and liquid when preparing the soup: apply the liquid to the face or hands as a natural compress. Old cucumber juice is cooling, anti-inflammatory, and traditionally associated with brightening skin and fading spots.
• The compound in cucumber (propanedioic acid) that inhibits sugar-to-fat conversion makes this soup particularly useful for people managing obesity or metabolic conditions.
• Lean pork shank (zhu zhan) can be used instead of pork ribs if preferred.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (yan, reader): My family member has pimples on the forehead. What kind of heat is that? Bro Niu: Forehead breakouts generally indicate heat in the heart channel. Try cooking a mung bean and lily bulb sweet soup — add a handful of raw Job’s tears for extra benefit. You can also find a cream called Fu Fang Pian Zai Huang Ruan Gao at Chinese pharmacy chains; it clears acne quickly when applied topically.

• Q (gigi, reader): Can I use pork shank instead of pork ribs? Bro Niu: Yes, pork shank works perfectly well.

• Q (M, reader): I have pimples and blackheads on my forehead and my TCM doctor says I have spleen deficiency. Can I add lotus seeds and lily bulb to this soup? Bro Niu: Forehead pimples and blackheads usually point to heart fire. Yes, adding lotus seeds and lily bulb to old cucumber soup is a good combination.

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Published May 29, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.