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.

Method

1. Trim the roots off the fresh plantain herb. Wash thoroughly and cut into sections.
2. Rinse and briefly soak the coix seed.
3. Slice the lean pork into thick pieces. Blanch in boiling water for 1–2 minutes, then rinse to remove impurities.
4. Place the coix seed, honey dates, and blanched pork in a large pot. Add 2.4 L of water. Bring to a full boil over high heat.
5. Once boiling, add the plantain herb sections.
6. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 1.5 hours.
7. Serve warm. The soup should be pale and clear with a mild, slightly sweet flavour.

Nourilo’s Tips

• Remove the roots before cooking; all remaining parts of the plant (stems, leaves, seed heads) can be used.
• If fresh plantain herb is unavailable, dried plantain herb works too. It is available at Chinese or Asian grocers and online. Alternatively, 75 g of fresh corn silk (su mi xu) makes a good substitute — it is also diuretic and anti-inflammatory.
• When taking alongside antibiotics, wait at least 2 hours after the medication before drinking the soup — no conflict.
• The tender young leaves of plantain are especially effective as a gentle laxative, so constipation sufferers can benefit too.
• People with a cold or weak spleen and stomach, and pregnant women, should not drink this soup.