Soups
Salted Lemon, Winter Melon, Cowpea and Dried Duck Gizzard Soup
Traditionally used to whet the appetite and ease fluid retention
In short: Salted Lemon, Winter Melon, Cowpea and Dried Duck Gizzard Soup is a soup that Traditionally used to whet the appetite and ease fluid retention. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, digestive wellness, everyday balance. Total time about 2 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: winter melon, job's tears (coix), pork shank, candied dates.
Why people make this soup
Buying sour plums to steam with ribs, Nourilo noticed a big jar of salted lemons beside them. The Chiu Chow shopkeeper sang the praises of salted lemon cooked with winter melon and duck, so Nourilo gave it a go — but as fresh duck is rather fatty, he used dried duck gizzard instead, plus cowpea, Job’s tears and winter melon. The result is genuinely appetite-whetting and tasty, traditionally used to whet the appetite, resolve stagnation, drain water and refresh you.
What studies say about the key ingredients
Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.
- Job's tears (coix)
Myeloperoxidase activity rose significantly in the placebo group after 8 weeks but showed no significant change in the adlay tea group. Vascular endothelial function improved in the adlay group, especially in those over 40.Limitation: Participants were healthy adults and the outcomes were surrogate markers, so the results say little about clinical disease outcomes. Tea is a polyphenol-rich extract, not whole grain.PubMed 38945894 · 2 more job's tears (coix) studies
From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.
Safety first — read before you cook
This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
- take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
- have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.
Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes
Members only
Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips
One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,344 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.
- Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,344 recipes
- Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
- One-time payment · card, Apple Pay or Google Pay · no subscription, no renewals
Checking your access…
$59.99 one-time · all recipes
Sign in or create a free account, then pay once by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Continue with GoogleBy continuing with Google or email you confirm you are 16 or older and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
$59.99 one-time · all recipes
Signed in as ·
Secure checkout by Stripe. One-time payment, no renewals. Access is linked to your Nourilo account and never expires. By paying you agree to our Terms of Use; you can get a full refund within 14 days (refund policy).
Comments
Join the conversation — sign in or create a free account to comment.
Continue with GoogleBy continuing with Google or email you confirm you are 16 or older and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Loading comments…