Fresh Sauropus Leaf, Almond, Three-Fruit and Carrot Soup

Why people make this soup

Nourilo says a lot of people — including the postpartum-care students he teaches — come to him after recovering from a cold or COVID still coughing and clogged with phlegm, asking what to cook. It’s very common, he reassures them. Fresh sauropus leaf is his go-to: gentle in nature, faintly sweet, with no medicinal taste, so even children won’t refuse it. Simmered with apple, pear, carrot, almond and monk fruit, the soup comes out clear and sweet.

Method

1. Wash the fresh sauropus leaf.
2. Wash the apples and pears with their skins on, core them, and cut into chunks.
3. Peel and chunk the carrot.
4. Rinse the almonds and monk fruit.
5. Bring everything to a boil in 2.1 L of water and simmer for 1 hour, down to 1.2 L.

Nourilo’s Tips

This clear, sweet soup suits anyone with throat discomfort, frequent coughing with phlegm, or dry, sluggish bowels after a cold or COVID — both cold-type and hot-type coughs can drink it. The photo uses ordinary monk fruit, but the more fragrant low-temperature-baked “golden” monk fruit works nicely too.