Old Cucumber Soup with Azuki Beans and Lentil

by | May 12, 2009 | Soups for Children, Spring Soups | 2 comments

Soup Name:

Old Cucumber Soup with Azuki Beans and Lentil

Traditional Chinese Name:

老黃瓜赤小豆扁豆湯 (lǎo huáng guā chì xiǎo dòu biǎn dòu tāng)

This tea is slightly cooling in nature, sweet to taste, and designed to reduce dampness in the body.

 

For videos, visit us on YouTube.

This old cucumber soup is a Chinese classic that is ideal for the wet and stuffy spring season.  It helps eliminate body moisture and heat and has a diuretic effect on the body. 

The lentil and beans are great consumption protein for children and it is healthy to drink for the whole family.  I particularly like the sweet, clean flavour of the soup that the old cucumber brings.

Any benefits?
  • This is a neutral and healthy soup for children
  • The additional protein can double as a meal if you add extra (beans and lentil combined)
  • Old cucumber is effective in clearing heatiness
  • This soup is great for the wet and stuffy spring season
  • The combination of beans and lentil are great for removing excess moisture in the body

For videos, visit us on YouTube.

What’s involved?

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 2 hours

Total time: 2 hour 5 mins

Serves: 8 bowls

Ingredients
Cooking Instructions
  1. Pre-marinate the pork with the salt and let it sit for at least an hour (overnight is best)
  2. Rinse and then soak the azuki beans, lentil and tangerine peel for at least 30 minutes
  3. Begin boiling your soup water
  4. Blanch the pork in a separate pot of boiling water
  5. Wash tangerine peel while scraping off seed pouches with a small knife
  6. Wash and peel old cucumber.  Keep the skin and remove seed pouch.  Cut into large cubes.
  7. Bring water to a boil and put all the ingredients in together.  Bring to boil.
  8. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 2 hours.
  9. Serve and enjoy!

This is a powerful combination of beans and lentil to combat dampness in the body.  

The azuki beans are sweet and neutral in nature that target the heart and spleen and activates blood circulation and detoxifies as well.  These types of ingredients are diuretics, which means, they encourage urination to help rid the dampness in the body.

 

 

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