Nourilo

Soups

Watercress, Almond and Fig Pork Lung Soup

traditionally associated with clearing lung heat, easing dry cough, and supporting bowel regularity

In short: Watercress, Almond and Fig Pork Lung Soup is a soup that traditionally associated with clearing lung heat, easing dry cough, and supporting bowel regularity. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, cleansing & regularity, everyday balance. Total time about 200 min. Key ingredients: watercress, figs, pork lung, pork bones.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
20 min
Cook
180 min
Total
200 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Respiratory & Lung WellnessCleansing & RegularityEveryday Balance
Watercress, Almond and Fig Pork Lung Soup

Why people make this soup

Watercress peaks in winter, and in Cantonese food culture that is a signal to start cooking it. Known in Chinese as “western vegetable” (xi yang cai) or bean-leaf vegetable (dou ban cai), it has long been used as a cooling, cleansing ingredient — thought to clear heat from the lungs and stomach, support the urinary system, and help the skin stay clear. When the autumn and winter air turns dry and scratchy throats appear, Nourilo reaches for this soup: watercress paired with almonds, figs, and pork lung for a combination that is traditionally considered particularly helpful for dry coughs, parched throats, and constipation caused by heat and dryness.

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.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Apricot kernels: Raw apricot kernels contain amygdalin, which turns into cyanide after eating. EFSA estimates that half of one small raw kernel can exceed the safe level for a toddler. Use no more than the recipe states, never eat them raw, and do not serve them to young children. Source: European Food Safety Authority

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…

Spot an error? Report a correction

You might also like

Related recipes

More soups →

Comments

Loading comments…