Soups
Pumpkin, Tomato, Carrot and Frog Soup
Traditionally used to support detoxification, even skin tone and brighten the complexion
Why people make this soup
A student in Bro Niu’s postnatal-care class asked how to fade cheek pigmentation and dark circles without taking medicine — food therapy is a lovely option. This soup uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients: pumpkin, tomato and carrot are all rich in pectin, which not only supports healthy cholesterol and blood pressure but also acts as a gentle detoxifier.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for anyone wanting to support clearer, more even skin and reduce dark circles, and it’s also kind to the eyes and helpful for keeping the “three highs” in check.
- Eat the soup ingredients along with the broth for best effect. If you’d rather not use frog, lean pork works well.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Pumpkin, tomato, carrot (nan gua, fan qie, hong luo bo): rich in pectin, traditionally regarded as helping the body clear waste and supporting cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Frog (tian ji): used here as a “guiding” food, traditionally said to carry the benefit of the pectin up to the face to help with pigmentation and dark circles.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pumpkin | ~300 g (half a jin) | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Tomatoes | 2–3 | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Carrot | 1 | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Frog | 3–4 | Skinned, cleaned, blanched (or use lean pork) |
Method
- Peel the pumpkin, tomatoes and carrot and cut into chunks; skin and clean the frog, then blanch.
- Add everything to a pot with 7–8 bowls of water and simmer for 1 hour until reduced to 4–5 bowls.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is sweet and tasty, fine for young and old; eat the ingredients as well as the broth for the best effect. Beyond supporting the complexion and fading pigmentation, it also helps keep the “three highs” in check and is good for the eyes.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Yi Mei): Can I make this without the frog, using something else? Bro Niu: You can use lean pork instead.
- Q (Ling): It’s damp where I live abroad. I want to make poria, bai zhu and lentil-skin water but can’t find lentil skin — what can replace it, and what amount for five people? Bro Niu: Use red beans instead of lentil skin — they drain dampness without being cold. For qi deficiency add 5 qian tai zi shen. For five people: 5 qian each poria and bai zhu, 1 liang red beans, 1 tangerine peel, 6 dates, 8 bowls of water boiled 1 hour to 5 bowls; add a big carrot for extra sweetness.
Published March 8, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
