There's great wisdom in nourishing soups. Autumn soups should be light and moisturizing. Do you know what soup to have for dinner this season? Here are six autumn soups to nourish your lungs.
As appetites improve in autumn, some may overeat unintentionally. Overeating leads to food stagnation, which can cause loss of appetite, indigestion, and abdominal bloating.Northerners might consider adopting Southern eating habits: start meals with soup to moisten dryness and fill stomach space, preventing overeating. Consuming soup after main dishes increases bloating risk.
The Art of Soup for Wellness
Though seemingly simple, soup consumption involves significant knowledge.
Soup selection should align with individual constitution and seasonal climate, consumed in appropriate amounts at right times. Herbal soups require particular caution to achieve health benefits.
As winter approaches, winter tonics should focus on warming and nourishing.Consumption should be tailored to individual constitutions and seasonal conditions, with careful consideration given to soups infused with Chinese herbs to achieve optimal health benefits.
During severe winters, warming tonics like mutton or dog meat soups may nourish those without internal heat, but are unsuitable for individuals with yin deficiency and excess fire.During the sweltering summer, these warming soups should be avoided. Instead, select meat broths, bone broths, or vegetable soups like radish, cabbage, winter melon, and mung bean soup based on your constitution and the season. Those with yin deficiency and excessive heat may opt for lotus seed, lily bulb, and Chinese yam soups or cooling tonic drinks.
During autumn's dry season, soups should be refreshingly moisturizing. Such soups hydrate skin and internal organs, mitigating dryness-related harm to the body. Thus, this season calls for soups that nourish the lungs and viscera—particularly beneficial for women, as regular consumption promotes health and beauty. So what soups suit autumn dinners? Below are six nourishing autumn recipes.
What soup to have for autumn dinner?
Health Soup #1: Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, and Scallop Soup with Lean Pork
This nutrient-rich soup not only addresses nervous exhaustion but also alleviates palpitations and insomnia. Additionally, it enhances cognitive function, calms the mind, and soothes anxiety. As the Classic of Materia Medica states, lotus seeds nourish the spirit and strengthen vitality, while the Materia Medica of Ri Hua Zi notes that lily bulbs tranquilize the mind, fortify the spirit, enhance intelligence, and nourish the organs.This soup is also an ideal health tonic for men, women, and all ages during autumn.
Ingredients: 30g lotus seeds, 30g lily bulbs, 20g dried scallops, 250g lean pork, 2-3 slices ginger.
Method:
1. Rinse lotus seeds, lily bulbs, and dried scallops. Soak briefly. Remove lotus seed cores. Shred dried scallops into thin strips.
2. Place all ingredients with ginger into an earthenware pot. Add 2000ml water (approximately 8 bowls). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat. Simmer until pork is tender.Rinse the lean pork but do not cut it into pieces.
2. Place all ingredients along with the ginger into an earthenware pot. Add 2000ml (approximately 8 bowls) of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 2 hours. Season with salt to taste. Remove the lean pork and dried scallops to serve with soy sauce as a side dish.
Health Soup #2: Lotus Root, Shiitake Mushroom, and Pork Rib Soup
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that raw lotus root has a cold nature, clearing heat and relieving irritability. When cooked, it transforms from cool to warm, nourishing the stomach, replenishing yin, strengthening the spleen, and boosting qi. Simmering lotus root with kidney beans improves sleep quality, while pairing it with pork ribs in soup aids digestion and stimulates appetite—ideal for those with weak spleen and stomach.In Guangdong folk tradition, lotus root and oyster sauce soup is favored during autumn and winter festivals, symbolizing "good fortune year after year." It offers nutritional benefits of boosting qi, nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen, and calming the heart. As autumn arrives, mushroom-based soups are most appropriate, as fungi in soups also nourish the stomach, fortify the spleen, and enhance qi.
Ingredients: 600g lotus root, 600g pork ribs, 40g dried shiitake mushrooms, 40g dried oyster sauce, 5 slices ginger.
Method:
1. Rinse all ingredients. Peel lotus root, remove knots, and cut into chunks. Cut pork ribs into sections. Soak dried shiitake mushrooms and oyster sauce briefly.
2. Place all ingredients with ginger into a clay pot. Add 2500ml water (about 10 bowls). Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for about 2 hours. Season with salt before serving.
3. Serve hot.
2. Place all ingredients with ginger into an earthenware pot. Add 2500ml (about 10 bowls) of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 2 hours. Season with salt before serving.