Pumpkin & Dried Persimmon Soup

Why people make this soup

Pumpkin has deep roots in Chinese village cooking — in lean times, it could substitute for rice, and it grows readily even in poor soil. What Nourilo finds particularly interesting is how pumpkin pairs beautifully with dried persimmon to make something that is not just a comforting, sweet soup but also traditionally associated with supporting skin health and helping to fade the dark spots that tend to appear on aging hands and faces. Both ingredients are rich in pectin — a soluble fiber known in Western nutrition for its gentle detoxifying properties. In Chinese food therapy, the two together are thought to help clear the blood and nourish the skin from within. It is the kind of simple, old-fashioned remedy that grandmothers might have relied on, and Nourilo thinks it is worth reviving.

Method

1. Peel the pumpkin, remove the seeds, and cut into large chunks.
2. Rinse the dried persimmon cakes and cut each into several pieces.
3. Place both ingredients in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a medium simmer.
5. Cook for about 1 hour until the pumpkin is very soft and the liquid has reduced to approximately 600 ml.
6. Drink the soup and eat the pumpkin and persimmon pieces.

Nourilo’s Tips

• Eating the soup ingredients (not just the liquid) is important — the pectin and beneficial compounds are largely in the cooked pumpkin and persimmon flesh itself.
• Dried persimmon cakes can be found at Chinese herbal medicine shops; if unavailable, one large carrot makes a reasonable substitute since carrots are also rich in pectin. However, be aware that eating large amounts of carrots can temporarily cause the skin to take on a slightly yellowish tint from carotene accumulation — this is harmless and reverses when you stop.
• Lean pork can be added if you prefer a savory soup; it will not significantly change the food-therapy properties.
• Pumpkin is warming in nature — not cooling — so it is generally well-suited for most body types, including those who tend to feel cold.