Plantain, Carrot, Almond and Pork Rib Soup

Why people make this soup

Fresh plantain herb is often sold at vegetable stalls and is usually inexpensive because it grows readily. Traditionally, it is used to lower blood lipids and blood pressure, promote urination, reduce swelling, clear stomach heat, ease phlegm and soothe coughs, which is why many home cooks like to use it in soup.

Research cited by Nourilo associates plantain herb with wound-healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. For people with bronchitis, it is said to increase mucus secretion in the airways, helping make phlegm thinner and easier to cough up while also suppressing cough. Because plantain herb gives soup a light, fragrant flavour without bitterness and is relatively mild, it is traditionally considered especially suitable for children with coughs.

Here Nourilo combines it with carrot, sweet and bitter apricot kernels, candied dates and pork ribs — a soup traditionally turned to for children coughing after a cold and for people with chronic bronchitis.