Soups
Loofah, Baby Corn and Mudfish Soup
traditionally associated with clearing summer heat, supporting urination and promoting lactation
Why people make this soup
Walking past a live fish stall, it is hard to miss the mudfish (niu qiu yu) — small, lively fish that are relatively affordable but make a wonderfully sweet and rich broth. When the weather turns hot, this kind of light fish soup paired with loofah and baby corn becomes a household staple in Cantonese families. It is the kind of soup that does not demand much effort but delivers a lot: cooling heat from the inside out, supporting the kidneys and bladder through gentle diuresis, and even helping nursing mothers who find their milk supply is not quite enough. Loofah in particular has a dual reputation — its sap, collected from the vine, was traditionally used both as a skincare tonic (whitening and firming) and as a remedy for phlegmy heat-type asthma. Modern research adds further dimensions, associating it with benefits for cardiovascular and brain health.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most adults and children; particularly good as a warm-weather everyday soup
- New mothers who are breastfeeding may find this soup supports milk production
- Those with gout should drink in moderation — both baby corn and fish are moderate in purines
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Loofah (si gua): Traditionally associated with cooling the blood, clearing heat and supporting smooth fluid movement in the body; its natural juice is associated with skin care and clearing phlegm
- Baby corn (yu mi sun / zhen zhu sun): Rich in folate and riboflavin; traditionally associated with brightening the eyes, reducing water retention and supporting urination; also said to support memory and cognitive function
- Mudfish (niu qiu yu): A lean, sweet-tasting fish that makes an exceptionally clean broth; lightly pan-frying before simmering removes any muddy flavour and enriches the soup
- Ginger (sheng jiang): Warms and balances the cooling ingredients; essential when using fish to prevent any fishy smell
Ingredients (4–6 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Loofah (si gua) | 1 piece | Peel and cut into chunks; add late in cooking |
| Baby corn (yu mi sun) | 1 box (~200 g) | Rinse well |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Mudfish (niu qiu yu) | 1–2 fish | Clean thoroughly; pan-fry in a little oil until golden before adding to soup |
| Water | 6 bowls (~1.5 L) |
Method
- Clean and gut the mudfish thoroughly. Heat a little oil in a pan and fry the fish on both sides until lightly golden — this removes any muddy flavour and produces a richer, whiter broth.
- Peel the loofah and cut into chunks.
- Rinse the baby corn.
- Bring 6 bowls of water to a boil. Add the fried fish, baby corn and ginger slices. Cook at a lively simmer for 20 minutes.
- Add the loofah chunks and cook for a further 10 minutes.
- Serve immediately. Eat the broth and some of the solid ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is naturally sweet and pleasant — the whole family can enjoy it. It is particularly good for nursing mothers. For a variation, salmon head can be used instead of mudfish (expect a stronger, slightly more robust flavour); it pairs well with gordon euryale seeds (qian shi), American ginseng (tai zi shen) and red dates. Baby corn and fish together do raise the purine level, so those managing gout should keep servings moderate.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (呀妹): Chinese supermarkets often have live red snapper, snakehead fish and mudfish. If I can only find organic salmon head at the Western supermarket, can I use it instead? Can I still add herbs like gordon euryale seeds, red dates and prince’s ginseng? Bro Niu: You can use salmon head — the flavour will be a bit stronger and slightly fishy, but it is equally nutritious. I personally prefer smaller fresh fish for a sweeter and cleaner broth.
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Q (reader): Can salmon head be paired with gordon euryale seeds, American ginseng and red dates? Bro Niu: Yes, salmon head goes well with euryale seeds (qian shi), prince’s ginseng (tai zi shen) and red dates. Those are a perfectly good combination.
Published April 22, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
