Green radish and carrot soup (青红萝卜汤)
Unlike adults, when babies and toddlers develop phlegm, it usually takes longer for them to clear it. One reason is they do not know how to split out the phlegm. Even my 5 year old son is still unable to do so even after teaching him how to do it. So far, he only managed to split out saliva, but not the phlegm. The only consolation is he knows how to clear his blocked nose.
I, like most parents, have been searching a remedy for clearing phlegm. Alas! I have yet to find the miracle remedy except to rely on medication prescribed by the pediatrician and avoid giving him certain known phlegm-inducing food like citrus fruit. I still believe the best remedy is to get adequate sleep and have a proper diet so as to boost our body’s immune system naturally. So far, I noticed this has helped my son to recover quickly.
Recently, I chanced upon this soup recipe from a Chinese soup recipe book which is said to be a remedy for those with a sore throat and lots of phlegm. It is written by Chiu Sang (赵生), a well known Hong Kong author, columnist, guest speaker and TV guest host relating to Chinese medicine.
Other benefits mentioned in the cookbook for this soup include helping in the strengthening of one’s spleen and throat, promote urination, clears excess body heat, ease mental stress, expel phlegm and stop coughing.
Below are the functions of each of the ingredients used in the soup:
- Green radish and carrot (青红萝卜) – clear heat, ease mental stress, promote urination and expel dampness.
- Bitter and sweet almonds (北南杏) (also known as bitter and sweet apricot kernels or seeds) – nourish the lungs, ease shortness of breath, expel phlegm and stop coughing. (Note: These ingredients can be used in making apple soup). Sweet almonds/ sweet apricot kernels or seeds (南杏)- It tastes sweet and is neutral in nature. It is non-toxic and relieves cough. Bitter almonds/ bitter apricot kernels or seeds (北杏)- It heals cough and expels phlegm. [WARNING: As bitter almond carries a slight trace of toxins (cyanide), please use it with extreme caution. There is a concern about the potential health effects associated with large numbers of bitter apricot kernels being consumed on a regular basis, particularly by young children (as mentioned in this link). It is also not advisable for pregnant ladies. If you’re not comfortable eating it, then exclude it from the recipe. Other reading reference: Is it safe to eat bitter apricot kernels by David Lebovitz.
- Candied dates (蜜枣) – nourish the body, cure asthenia, strengthen and energize the body
This soup is also very simple-to-made and tastes delicious. Hence, I love making this soup for my family. Just how effective this soup is in remedying cough and phlegm, I am not sure. But, no harm trying it out and judge it for yourself.
Wishing all parents in Singapore and Malaysia having a wonderful June holiday breaks!
>>>> Click on PAGE 2 BELOW for green radish and carrot soup recipe ……………
53 Comments
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Never saw GREEN radish before…very interesting!
Angie: It’s new to me too!
The green radish is so interesting! I have yet to see one here. This soup must be very sweet, I like what you put in it.
LCOM: Yes, it has the natural sweetness.
This soup really is full of superfoods! I am going to make it next time I have a cold. I hate phlegm. It just feels so….icky.
Joanne: A good remedy to bookmark in your cooking list.
I’ve never seen green radish before. My mum used to boil Chinese pear and almond 北南杏soup for us when we have cough.
Pigpigscorner: It’s the 1st time I cooked green radish. I will share a recipe using Chinese pear and Chinese almonds in my upcoming post soon.
hehee…I just cooked this yesterday ;DD
Anncoo: Oh, what a co-incidence! Looking forward to see your post soon.
This looks gorgeous LK. It really looks so good. I want to try it soon…
And I’m so intrigued by all the ingredients I’m not familiar with! Think it’s time for another wandering around the wet market…
Clare (Mrs Multitasker): Thanks for your compliment! Hope you will love it.
Oh and how did you get the beautiful chinese calligraphy font??
Clare (Mrs Multitasker): I can’t recall how I found this font but there are many nice Chinese fonts for free downloading at this link (http://www.wazu.jp/gallery/Fonts_ChineseTraditional.html). Hope it helps!
Hello, I know the feeling , i hate it when that happens. Although not sure my son is going to swallow that soup. looks lovely by the way
Peanutts: Yeah, that’s why it is important to make sure our kids have a strong immune system. Thanks! You can try my apple soup instead.
I didn’t know there’s green radish!
The Peach Kitchen
blowing peachkisses
peach and things
Peachkins: It’s new to me too.
where can i get this green radish?
Tammy: You can find it either in the wet market or NTUC supermarket.
Is the green radish tastes like white radish?
Little Inbox: White radish is sweeter. Give it a try if you can find it.
The raw green radish looks like candied lime slices. So cute!! I’ve never came across green radish before…
Swee San: Hahaha! What a good comparison!
wow i love this soup, must try this coming weekend!
BBO: Yeah, definitely worth trying this nutritious soup!
Just awesome, such a nutricious soup yet simple to make! lovely
Sidney: Thanks! Give it a try!
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Oh! I need this and I would give it a try as my son also having cough and phlegm, including myself….
Thanks for sharing!
Alice: Hope he will get well soon.
Oh I see. Ok, will give it a try soon.
Little Inbox: Looking forward to hearing your feedback. Happy trying!
This soup is so nourishing. I love your photos – I have problems capturing Chinese soups hehe … and I heard raves about green carrot for detoxification as well, so yummy.
Noobcook: Thanks! Your shots look perfect to me. This detoxification sounds great to me! Got to read out more about it.
I enjoy green radish soup but I hardly find them in the supermarket. So my regular is white radish which clears phlegm too and quite a comfort for me when I have stubborn phlegm as well. I like natural remedy – does not matter if scientifically proven since I believe it nourishes us in one way or another.
Tigerfish: I saw green radish in NTUC supermarket. Natural remedy is good but it will depend on individual’s health condition for its effectiveness.
Oh, love this soup from childhood. I don’t know why my mum cooked this soup for us. I just love having it all the time. Whenever I come across good quality of 青蘿蔔, I’ll definitely cook this soup for my family.
Christine: Unlike you, this soup is my current discovery. Maybe it is not popular in my hometown.
I never knew this soup was good for sore throat. Hmm I’ll have to take note next time .. haha not that I would like to be down with a bad throat. Lovely pictures.
Jo: It’s new to me too. Thanks!
Very nice. I like green radish but they are very hard to find in Australia
Anh: Thanks! Maybe this radish is not very popular in Australia. Just my guess.
Must be a sweet soup for healing throat!
Dora: Yeah, it has natural sweetness. Very soothing for the throat too. Remember to bookmark this recipe yeah.
wonderful soup, I bet it would make anyone feel better…grenn radishes wow I must try to find these..
sweetlife
Sweetlife: Hope you get to find the ingredients and try it out.
hi, i very frequent boiled this soup for my family. you may try this recipe too…GREEN + RED + WHITE RADISH , pork and dry oyster (hou si)..the taste is fantastic. i had this recipe from one Australia aunty which i meet her in one of our local super market…HAPPY TRYING !
Christine: You are so kind. Thanks for your recipe. Yeah, I have this tripple radishes soup recipe but haven’t tried it out yet. I was told by my friend that it is not advisable to consume carrot and white radish at the same time because it will affect the absoption of the nutrients. If you can read Chinese, it is also mentioned in this link (http://wenda.tianya.cn/wenda/thread?tid=07087eea73892e82).
yay! green radish is available at my local asian supermarket. i will definitely try this..thanks for sharing.
CJ: Oh! That’s great! Happy trying!
Oh! You are here! I’ve missed out so much about your blog. I think I’ve added you in my blog list but somehow I just realized you’ve moved to a new link. No wonder I didn’t read your posting for so long. So sorry about that! Oh no.. I’ve really miss out a lot of your cooking and baking. Ok, I got to update my blog list now. Cheers!
Kitchen Corner: Hi Grace, welcome to my new home! Glad you find your way here. Hehehe! Thank you very much for updating my new link in your blog list!! Hope to see you again!