Job's-Tears, Red-Bean and Mung-Bean Soup with Licorice

Why people make this soup

Nourilo offers this one for the hot, humid stretch of the year, when nurseries and care homes can see waves of illness going around. In the traditional view, the body does well to clear heat and drain “damp” in such weather. This soup leans on three humble pantry ingredients — Job’s tears and two kinds of bean — with a touch of licorice, and is gentle enough for both little ones and the elderly to sip as a seasonal comfort.

Method

1. Soak and rinse the Job’s tears and beans.
2. Add everything to a pot with 1.8 L of water and simmer about 1.5 hours, down to about 1.2 L.

Nourilo’s Tips

This can be drunk as a preventive seasonal soup. If a weak child or elder needs more nourishment, add one old pigeon. For a child whose mouth is too sore to eat, you can strain out the solids and set the liquid with a little agar or fish gelatine into a jelly that is easier to take.