Soups
Yacon, Fig and Apricot Kernel Sweet Soup
Traditionally used to clear heat, moisten the lungs and ease the bowels
Why people make this soup
Yacon is a newer wellness fruit Bro Niu likes — crisp, clean and sweet, a little like a snow pear, which makes it perfect for the soup pot. It is traditionally associated with clearing the liver, regulating the blood, moistening the lungs and easing the bowels. Paired with figs and apricot kernels into a light sweet soup, it’s the bowl Bro Niu reaches for when the bowels feel sluggish and digestion is slow — it’s said to help things move along.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people wanting a clean, cooling, gently bowel-moving soup; also paired (with carrot, corn and Chinese yam) for those minding their blood sugar.
- Yacon is cool in nature — not suitable for those with a cold, weak spleen and stomach, or with loose stools or diarrhea.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Yacon (xue lian guo): cool in nature; traditionally associated with clearing heat, regulating the blood and easing the bowels, with antioxidant qualities.
- Dried figs (wu hua guo): sweet and gentle; traditionally used to moisten and ease the bowels and aid digestion.
- Apricot kernels (nan bei xing): traditionally paired to support the lungs.
Ingredients (4 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yacon | ~300 g (half a catty) | Peeled, chunked |
| Dried figs | 4–6 | Sliced |
| South & north apricot kernels | ~38 g (1 liang) | Culinary kind |
Method
- Peel and chunk the yacon; slice the figs; rinse the apricot kernels.
- Put everything in a pot with enough water for 4 bowls.
- Simmer about 1 hour.
- Serve as a light sweet soup.
Bro Niu’s tips
For a savory blood-sugar-friendly version, pair yacon instead with carrot, corn and Chinese yam in a lean-pork soup. Yacon is cool in nature, so go easy if your constitution runs cold.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Traz): For the fig-and-apricot-kernel sweet soup, how much of each ingredient for 4 servings? Bro Niu: For 4 servings: 4–6 figs, sliced; ~38 g (1 liang) south and north apricot kernels; ~300 g (half a catty) yacon.
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Q (Winnie): Can a pregnant woman drink this soup? Bro Niu: Yes, this soup is suitable during pregnancy.
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Q (Fanny): Can babies drink it? Bro Niu: Babies over one year old can have it.
Published September 30, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
