Plantain Herb, Coix Seed and Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Plantain herb (Plantago asiatica, called che qian cao in Chinese) is a common wild green that grows along roadsides, river banks, and field edges. You might recognise it as the low-growing rosette plant with oval ribbed leaves and thin flower spikes that appears in lawns all over the world. In Chinese food therapy, it has a long history as a cooling, diuretic herb.

Nourilo pairs it with coix seed and lean pork for a clear, light soup that is traditionally used during hot and humid weather, or whenever someone in the family has signs of excess heat — foggy or gritty eyes, scanty or uncomfortable urination, or general summer heaviness. The soup is mild enough to serve to children and was particularly appreciated for “golden urine” (a sign of concentrated, heated urine) in little ones. Fresh plantain herb is available at Chinese or Asian grocers; dried herb works equally well as a substitute.