Ching Bo Leung With Pork Chinese Herbal Soup 四季清補涼瘦肉湯

Ching Bo Leung With Pork Chinese Herbal Soup 四季清補涼瘦肉湯 is an excellent all-season broth to boost the digestive system and remove dampness. This Traditional Chinese Medicine soup includes six inexpensive Chinese herbs common to Cantonese households and can be made in just 90 minutes. 

> In This Post: Everything You'll Need For The Best Chinese Ching Bo Leung Soup Recipe

This Chinese healthy sweet soup recipe is quick and easy to make. It does not take long to boil, and the soup base can be a vegetarian recipe. Adding carrots and sweet corn is a fantastic way to add sweetness to Chinese soups. Pair it with large chunks of pork bones; the taste is delicious and soothing. 

Check out this quick story summary of our recipe!

Jump to:

• > In This Post: Everything You'll Need For The Best Chinese Ching Bo Leung Soup Recipe
• What is Ching Bo Leung Soup?
• Health Benefits & TCM Properties
• Ingredients and Substitutes
• Instructions
• Other Delicious Savory Soup Recipes
• What To Serve With Traditional Chinese Soups
• > Recipe Card
• Ching Bo Leung With Pork Chinese Herbal Soup 四季清補涼瘦肉湯

What is Ching Bo Leung Soup? 

Ching Po Leung is one of the most popular herbal pork bone soups in Cantonese cuisine in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau for its healing properties.

Ching Po Leung (清補涼, Qīng bǔ liáng) in Chinese characters translates to 'refreshing and cooling.' 

• 清, Qīng - Removes heat and strengthens the Spleen.
• 補, Bǔ - Benefits and nourishes the body.
• 涼, Liáng - Moistens and improves Yin.

This famous soup in Cantonese cuisine is suitable year-round and removes dampness, balances spleen dysfunction, and soothes the effects of hot and humid climates.

Qing Bu Liang soup is sometimes referred to as Six Flavour Soup (六味湯,Liùwèi Tāng). Like adrenal fatigue soup, Si Shen Tang 四神湯 which consists of four main ingredients, Ching Po Leung Soup mix consists of six main ingredients!

Health Benefits & TCM Properties

Nowadays, cooking a pot of nutritious soup is very convenient to support good health and boost essential fluids. Dried ingredients are readily available at Asian supermarkets and Chinese herbalists in prepackaged Ching Bo Leung packets.

I store my dried herbs in an airtight container.

Dried Chinese Yams (淮山, Huáishān) - Dioscorea Polystachya is sweet, neutral and targets the kidney, lung and spleen meridians. Huai Shan helps individuals with spleen deficiencies 脾虚, reduces blood sugar and pressure, improves vitality and is anti-inflammatory.

Solomon's Seal Rhizome (玉竹, Yù zhú) - Polygonatum Odoratum nurtures Yin, moistens and promotes body fluid, and quenches thirst. Treats fever, dry mouth, and inflammation. Polygonatum Odoratum nature is cooling and is part of the stomach and lung meridian.  

Poria Cocos (茯苓, Fúlíng) - Wolfiporia cocos is a mushroom that grows on the roots of Pine trees. It is neutral in nature and tastes sweet-bland. It helps to reduce water retention and dampness. Its healing properties and medicinal benefits include calming the heart and spirit, improving and strengthening the Spleen and stomach, and resolving phlegm.

Dried Lily Bulbs (百合, Bǎihé) - Lilium lancifolium nature is cold and helps lower heat, relieve coughs, dry throats and other respiratory conditions like chronic bronchitis, asthma, etc. Its properties treat restlessness and irritability and promote restful sleep to improve overall health.

Dried Lotus Seeds (蓮子, Liánzǐ) - Semen Nelumbinis Nuciferae, dried lotus seeds are sweet and promote the Spleen, kidney and heart. Those suffering from insomnia will find comfort in the 'de-heating' properties of lotus seeds. Lotus seeds also reduce hemorrhaging. Enjoy this absolutely delicious Green Mung Bean Dessert Soup that quenches thirst and detoxes the liver!

Euryale Ferox (芡實, Qiànshí) - Fox nut is neutral and helps to tonifies the Spleen, promote digestion and restrain abnormal discharge of fluids. This herb stabilizes, binds, and is used with other herbs to treat a specific "deficiency." Euryale Ferox is rich in starch, fat, protein, calcium, iron, etc.

Most dry goods ingredients, tools and supplies can be purchased at your local Asian markets or Chinese grocery stores or Amazon Online.

Optional Add-On Ingredients

In addition to the six main ingredients, consider adding the following Chinese herbs to create your signature herbal soup packet to suit your constituents. The extra ingredients are unnecessary but can significantly improve the flavour and texture.

Raw Coix Seeds (生薏米 Shēng yìmǐ) - Job's tear barley are cold in nature and are excellent at removing dampness, wind and heat. Springtime is most suitable for making soups and beverages with pearl barley, such as Lemon Coix Seed Water 檸檬薏米水. Raw coix seeds invigorate the Spleen, relieve diarrhea, lighten the body, nourish Qi and intestinal pain.

Glehnia Root (沙參, Shā shēn) - Glehnia Littoralis is a tonic herb used for Yin deficiency. It is bitter and sweet in taste and cool in nature. Bei Sha Shen moisturizes the lungs and eliminates phlegm. Sha Shen targets the lung and stomach meridians. TCM doctors prescribe Glehnia Root to treat dry cough, dry throat, and red tongue. 

Dried Longan Pulp (龍眼肉, Lóngyǎn ròu) - Longan meat is also called 桂圓肉, Guìyuán ròu and is an edible fruit used to address blood deficiency in the heart and Spleen. The heart controls a person's mental well-being, including sleep quality. Blood deficiency can give rise to Qi deficiency. In TCM, blood produces Qi, and Qi promotes blood circulation. Rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron and organic acids. Longan is naturally sweet and is delicious in Red Dates Longan Tea With Goji Berries 紅棗桂圓杞子茶 or in Silkie Chicken Soup with Cordyceps 蟲草花花膠响螺煲烏雞湯!

Carrots (紅蘿蔔, Hóng luóbo) - This Vitamin-rich root vegetable not only improves immunity but also improves eye fatigue, anemia and lowers blood pressure, improves metabolism and strengthens liver and stomach functions. Enjoy this absolutely delicious blistered carrot side dish in just 20 minutes.

Sweet Corn (粟米, Sùmǐ) - Fresh local corn nourishes Yin and blood. Corn helps clear heat, quench thirst, strengthens the stomach, harmonizes the stomach and calms the mind. Don't throw the corn silk (玉米絲, Yùmǐ sī) away. Corn silks enter the kidney, bladder, and gall bladder meridians and can treat hypertension, gout, and edema, soften masses and restore essence. Enjoy this absolutely delicious Air Fryer Spicy Miso Corn Ribs in 15 minutes.

Pork Ribs (豬骨, Zhū gǔ) - Pork ribs and pork bones boost a simple TCM soup. Pork bone soup is rich in minerals, vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Pork is also a rich source of niacin and thiamine, Vitamins B12 and B6, selenium, and zinc. Choose pork neck bones, shank or tenderloin for a less fatty option. 

Here are a couple of spareribs root-forward dishes from the blog with which I am genuinely obsessed! Both these recipes are delicious and easy to make!

 Other Pork Ribs Recipes 

• Red Fermented Bean Curd Lotus Root Spareribs 南乳蓮藕炆排骨
• Honey Garlic Pork Ribs (Air Fry) 蒜子蜜汁骨
• Lotus Root Pork Bone Soup without Peanuts  

Ingredients and Substitutes

• Dried Chinese Yams 淮山 
• Solomon's Seal Rhizome 玉竹 
• Poria Cocos 茯苓
• Dried Lily Bulbss 百合 
• Dried Lotus Seed 蓮子 
• Euryale Ferox 芡實 
• Optional Ingredients:
• Raw Coix Seeds 生薏米 
• Glehnia Root 沙參
• Dried Longan Pulp 龍眼肉
• Carrots 紅蘿蔔
• Sweet Corn 粟米
• Pork Ribs 豬骨

Instructions

Soak the herbs in a small bowl in cold water for 5-10 minutes to remove traces of impurities. This will help remove dust and debris. Rinse and set aside in a small bowl.  

Wash and pat dry vegetables. Cut the vegetables into chunky, thick, or round pieces, approximately 2 inches. 

Wash the pork ribs, pork shank or tenderloin with cold water and pat dry with a kitchen paper towel. It is only necessary to cut the pork ribs into small pieces if your pot needs to be bigger.

Blanched pork ribs in a medium pot to remove the impurities and excess foam. Rinse with cold water. Set aside.

Add sliced vegetables, parboiled pork bones and herbal ingredients into a clean, large stock pot not made of stainless steel like THIS Ceramic Pot or a Buydeem Health Beverage Maker to make Ching Bo Leung with pork rib soup. 

Although not all Chinese herbs react with metal, it is best not to use a metal pot when making Chinese medicinal herbal soups.

Fill a large pot with enough water to cover to make the clear soup stock. We used approximately 4 litres of cold water. 

Boil at high heat for 30 minutes, then reduce to low heat. Continue with a slow, gentle simmer for 60 minutes on low heat.

Pro Tip: If you find your pot of soup is low in liquid, where most of the liquid has evaporated, add a bit of boiled hot water to the soup and continue cooking.

Skim off excess foam on the surface of the soup.

Salt to taste.

Serve and enjoy. 

Next time, if you find yourself short of time, make this perfect soup in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker in just 20 minutes (not counting natural release). 

I guarantee this soup will become one of your favourite soups! Serve the cooked soup ingredients with Chilli Soy Dipping Sauce and complete a full meal.

Cooking Times

• Stove Top - 90 minutes
• Slow cooker - 2 hours
• Pressure cooker - 20 minutes

Meal Prep 

Chinese people love double-boiled soup boiled for a long time. The extra broth is a great way to warm up and absorb nutritious essence, vitamins and minerals. 

One of the best ways to enjoy this Cantonese herbal soup is by making a big soup pot to last two to three days. Ching Bo Leung is excellent to sip throughout the day in a thermos during breakfast and lunch! 

Store leftover Chinese soup in airtight containers, large mason jars or soup pots in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Other Delicious Savory Soup Recipes

Find the harmony you miss with this delicious, immune-boosting, nutritious soup menu. Take back control of your mood and recharge energy levels by balancing your hormones and minerals with different soups. A bowl of nourishing soup is the quintessential embodiment of easily digestible southern Chinese cooking. 

• Ba Wong Fa Soup for Cough and Phlegm 霸王花無花果瘦肉響螺湯
• Wild Matsutake Morel and Cordyceps Mushroom Soup 松茸菇羊肚菌石斛養生湯
• Chinese Apple and Snow Pear Soup 蘋果雪梨無花果瘦肉湯
• Moisturizing Chinese Apple Sea Coconut Soup 雪梨蘋果海底椰玉竹無花果湯
• Chinese Papaya Dessert with Snow Fungus 木瓜雪耳糖水

What To Serve With Traditional Chinese Soups

A bowl of hot soup is the perfect companion of Chinese cuisine. Add this hearty soup with the following dishes.

Complete the meal with the following delicious dishes.

• Bean Curd Sheets with Baby Bok Choy Stir Fry 氣炸鍋腐皮蒜蓉炒白菜
• Microwave Soy Sauce Chicken Wings 豉油雞翅微波爐
• Air Fryer BBQ Pork Char Siu 氣炸鍋蜜汁叉燒
• Chinese Tomato Egg Stir-fry 番茄炒蛋
• Chinese Braised Eggplant 紅燒茄子

After eating lots of heavy, rich, and deep-fried foods, a great way to reduce heat is with a bowl of this liver-detoxing Chinese Sweet Mung Bean Soup 綠豆沙 or Hawthorn Goji Berry Tea Digestion Tea 山楂杞子茶 that aids digestion.

I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS.

> Recipe Card

Print

Pin the above image to your Chinese TCM Recipe Pinterest Board to bookmark this page. We are so excited to share our recipes with you!

More Chinese Recipes

Chinese Steamed Chicken With Shiitake Mushroom 冬菇蒸雞

Air Fryer BBQ Pork Char Siu 氣炸鍋蜜汁叉燒

Red Bean Soup (Instant Pot) 蓮子百合紅豆沙

Braised Beef Brisket & Tendon 柱侯蘿蔔炆牛筋腩

Best Postpartum Pig Trotter Black Vinegar and Ginger 豬腳薑醋

This post contains affiliate links and/or products submitted to Nomss for editorial consideration. To find out more, please visit our About/Disclaimer page.

Remove Ad-Block to view shopping guide!