Soups
Partridge, Papaya and Fresh Lily Bulb Soup
Traditionally used to support milk supply and nourish lungs after childbirth
Why people make this soup
More and more new mothers choose to breastfeed, knowing how much it benefits both baby and mother. But some find their milk comes in short, and a few nourishing, milk-supporting soups can help with that. Papaya, figs and pork trotter are all traditionally associated with encouraging milk; paired here with partridge, lily bulb and apricot kernels, the soup also takes on a tonifying, lung-moistening quality that’s a real comfort for women recovering after childbirth.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits new mothers wanting a nourishing, milk-supporting soup, and anyone with a dry throat — including smokers — who’d like something moistening.
- Partridge is tonifying, so skip it if you still have an unresolved cold or external infection.
- If milk supply concerns continue, please see a doctor or lactation specialist.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Partridge (zhe gu): a tonifying poultry traditionally used to nourish and restore; unlike squab, it is not regarded as drying up milk.
- Papaya (mu gua): traditionally associated with encouraging milk supply.
- Figs (wu hua guo): moistening for the lungs, calcium-rich, traditionally linked with supporting milk.
- Fresh lily bulb (xian bai he): moistens the lungs and is calming.
- South apricot kernels (nan xing): traditionally used to moisten the lungs.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): warms and balances the soup.
Ingredients (about 4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Partridge (zhe gu) | 1 | Cleaned, blanched |
| Papaya (mu gua) | 1 | Peeled, deseeded, chunked |
| Fresh lily bulb (xian bai he) | 2 liang (~75 g) | Rinsed |
| Dried figs (wu hua guo) | 4 | |
| South apricot kernels (nan xing) | 1 liang (~38 g) | Sweet almond |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices |
Method
- Clean the partridge and blanch it briefly in boiling water; rinse the fresh lily bulb.
- Put all the ingredients into a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Simmer for about 2 hours until reduced to roughly 4 bowls.
- Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup also suits regular smokers and anyone with a dry, scratchy throat. If someone in the family dislikes the taste of papaya, you can swap it for snow fungus (xue er) and carrot instead.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Jie): Does eating partridge dry up milk? I know squab does — does partridge? Bro Niu: Eating partridge will not dry up milk.
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Q (Ms. Sze, paraphrased): Besides papaya, can the soup be made another way for a dry, hoarse throat with post-nasal drip? Bro Niu: You can steep half a luo han guo (monk fruit) with 4 sliced figs as a daily tea; or simmer fu ling and bai zhu (4 qian each), chen pi (2 qian), 3 slices ginger and 4 red dates in 5 bowls of water down to 2, to help with phlegm and cough.
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Q (KK): If I don’t use papaya in this soup, can something replace it? My family dislikes the smell of papaya. Good choice for these dry days, thanks! Bro Niu: You can use snow fungus and carrot instead.
Published March 16, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
