Introduction: Colds can occur year-round. Besides medication, dietary therapy is also very important. Many people know that nourishing soups are beneficial when you have a cold. So, what soups are good to drink when you have a cold? Here, we recommend six snow pear soups for you, which are nourishing, moisten the lungs, and prevent coughing—beneficial in every way.
I. Snow Pear Soup with Silver Fungus and Fritillary
Efficacy: Silver fungus nourishes yin and replenishes the lungs, moisturizing dryness and promoting fluid production. Snow pear clears heat and promotes fluid production, moistening the lungs and transforming phlegm. Fritillary bulb replenishes and clears the lungs, transforming phlegm and stopping coughs. The combination of these three ingredients has an excellent effect of clearing heat, replenishing the lungs, stopping coughs, and transforming phlegm. It is particularly suitable for symptoms in the elderly caused by lung deficiency, pulmonary emphysema, or poor lung function, such as chest tightness and shortness of breath, dry cough with no sputum, or coughing up blood.
Ingredients: 20g of soaked silver fungus, 1 snow pear, 5g of fritillary bulb, 30g of rock sugar (or white sugar)
Method:
1. Pick out the stems and impurities from the soaked silver fungus, wash it, and tear it into small pieces.
2. Wash the snow pear, peel it, remove the core and seeds, and cut it into small cubes.
3. Wash the fritillary bulb.
4. Place all the prepared ingredients into a steaming pot, add sugar and 1 cup of water, steam for about 1 hour, then remove and serve.
How to take: 1 dose daily, consumed on an empty stomach in the morning and evening.
II. Snow Pear Soup with Goji Berry
Efficacy: This soup has the effect of improving eyesight and moistening the lungs.
Ingredients: 300g of goji berry leaves, 225g of carrots, 4 snow pears, 3 honey dates, 225g of lean pork, 2 slices of ginger, salt to taste
Method:
1. Take only the goji berry leaves and wash them clean.
2. Clean the goji berry stalks and tie them into a bundle.
3. Peel the carrots, wash them, and cut them into pieces.
4. Wash the snow pears and cut them into pieces.
5. Wash the honey dates.
6. Wash the lean pork, blanch it, then rinse it clean.
7. Bring an appropriate amount of water to a boil. Add the goji berry stalks, carrots, snow pears, honey dates, lean pork, and ginger. Once the water boils, reduce the heat and simmer for about 90 minutes. Remove the goji berry stalks, then add the goji berry leaves and continue to simmer for about 20 more minutes. Season with salt and serve.
III. Snow Pear Soup with South and North Almonds
Efficacy: South and north almonds have the effect of regulating qi, calming asthma, resolving phlegm, and stopping coughs. Snow pear is cold and juicy, which can increase the body's fluids. These fluids enter the blood, and the blood enters the pulmonary circulation. Therefore, it has a certain therapeutic effect for those with lung dryness caused by blood heat and fluid damage. Winter is a season with many colds. Drinking this soup frequently can clear heat, promote fluid production, transform phlegm, stop coughs, and moisten the lungs.
Ingredients: 10g of south almonds and 10g of north almonds, 1 snow pear, 30g of white sugar
Method:
1. Soak the south and north almonds in water briefly to remove the skins. Peel and core the snow pear, and cut it into four pieces.
2. Pour 200ml of clear water into a steaming pot, add the south and north almonds, snow pear, and white sugar. Cover and steam over a water bath for 1 hour, then it is ready to eat.
IV. Snow Pear Soup with Golden Needle and Wood Ear Fungus
Efficacy: Golden needle, also known as "forget-me-not," has the effects of promoting urination, reducing inflammation, and detoxifying.
Ingredients: 19g of golden needle mushrooms, 19g of wood ear fungus, 5 snow pears, 225g of lean pork, 4 honey dates, 4 dried figs, 1 small piece of dried tangerine peel, salt to taste.
Method:
1. Soak the golden needle mushrooms and wood ear fungus in water for a moment, then wash them clean.
2. Wash the snow pears and cut them into pieces. Soak the dried tangerine peel until soft, then scrape out the pith.
3. Wash the lean pork, blanch it, then rinse it clean.
4. Wash the honey dates and dried figs.
5. Bring an appropriate amount of water to a boil. Add the golden needle mushrooms, wood ear fungus, snow pears, lean pork, honey dates, dried figs, and dried tangerine peel. Once the water boils, reduce the heat and simmer for about 90 minutes. Season with salt and serve.
V. Bird's Nest and Snow Pear Soup
Efficacy: Bird's nest is sweet and neutral in nature, with the effects of nourishing the lungs and stomach, replenishing qi and yin, promoting fluid production, and eliminating deficiency heat. Snow pear is moistening and clearing, promoting fluid production. Rock sugar replenishes qi, harmonizes the stomach, and moistens the lungs. Together, they form a soup that is nourishing but not drying, and moistening but not greasy. It is an excellent remedy for regulating deficiency and weakness. This soup nourishes yin, moistens dryness, replenishes qi, and tonifies the middle. It is suitable for yin deficiency with dry heat, lung dryness with a dry cough, or coughing blood due to deficiency and overstrain; dry mouth and throat, tidal fever; or dysphagia and asthma due to fluid depletion and qi weakness.
Ingredients: 120g of bird's nest, 3 snow pears, an appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Method:
1. Soak the bird's nest in clear water, wash it, and pick out any feathers or impurities.
2. Peel the snow pears, take the flesh, and cut it into small pieces.
3. Place all the ingredients into a steaming pot, add an appropriate amount of boiling water, cover the pot, and steam over a low heat in a water bath for 3 hours. Season and serve.
Special Note: This soup is not suitable for those with a cold and fever, or those with excessive dampness in the spleen and stomach.