Soups
Papaya, Coconut, Snow Fungus and Chicken-Breast Soup
Traditionally moistens the lungs and supports recovery after illness
Why people make this soup
At a gathering, Bro Niu realised more than half the table had had COVID, and they shared the same after-effects: chest tightness and breathlessness, getting winded after a short walk, achy muscles and joints, deep tiredness, poor appetite, and dulled taste and smell. This soup is traditionally used to moisten the lungs, settle the stomach and support the body through those lingering complaints.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People recovering from illness with low appetite, tired limbs, phlegmy cough or a dull complexion
- Naturally sweet and gentle; if you are allergic to almonds, swap in figs (see Q&A)
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Papaya (mu gua): traditionally used to support the stomach and digestion
- Coconut (ye zi): adds natural sweetness and is associated with nourishing and moistening
- Snow fungus (xue er): classically used to moisten the lungs
- North and south almond (nan bei xing): traditionally used to soothe the lungs and ease cough
- Chicken breast (ji xiong rou): lean protein to gently build the body back up
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mini coconut | 1 | washed, cut up |
| Papaya | 1 | peeled, deseeded, chunked |
| Corn | 1 cob | husked, cut up |
| Snow fungus | ~11 g (3 qian) | soaked, stem removed |
| North and south almond | ~38 g (1 liang) | soaked and rinsed |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | |
| Chicken breast | 1 piece | cut large, blanched |
Method
- Wash the coconut and cut into pieces. Peel and deseed the papaya, cut into chunks. Husk the corn and cut up.
- Soak and rinse the snow fungus and almonds; remove the snow fungus stem.
- Cut the chicken breast into large pieces and blanch.
- Put everything in a pot with 9 bowls of water and simmer 2 hours down to 4–5 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clear, sweet and tasty, and is traditionally seen as helpful for poor appetite, tired limbs, a phlegmy cough and a dull complexion.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader): What can I cook for my daughter after her period? I don’t know if she runs cold or warm. Bro Niu: After a period, a “four-reds” soup helps nourish blood — red beans, red-skin peanuts, goji berries and red dates (each to taste) as a sweet soup, or with lean pork. It suits both cold and warm constitutions.
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Q (Chen): My 3-year-old and 6-month-old (breastfed) both caught RSV; the doctor said bronchitis. After a few days of fever they have a phlegmy cough and the once-clear mucus has turned slightly pale green. What soup can I make? Bro Niu: Use chuan bei powder 4 tsp, 2 snow pears (cored, thinly sliced), 1 piece chen pi shredded, in 3 bowls of water double-boiled for 1 hour, for the 3-year-old and the baby (the baby takes as much as they want, half a bowl to a bowl), split over the day. It traditionally helps ease phlegm and cough.
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Q (pu): If almonds are an allergy, what can replace them? Bro Niu: You can use 3–4 figs instead of the almonds.
Published April 30, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
