Mung Bean, Lily Bulb and Snow Pear Porridge (Summer Heat Relief & Lung-Moistening Congee)

Main Ingredients

• Rice 80g
• Mung beans 40g
• Dried lily bulbs 20g
• Snow pear 1 pc
• Rock sugar
• Goji berries 5g
• Water 1.5-1.7L

Steps

1. Rinse mung beans and soak in water for 2-3 hours (refrigerate in summer). Soak dried lily bulbs in warm water for 2 hours. For fresh ones, just rinse and separate. Scrub the snow pear with salt, rinse well, and cut into 2cm chunks (keeping the skin on). If peeled, soak chunks in lightly salted water to prevent browning, then drain before use.

   

2. Place the soaked mung beans and rice into a pot with sufficient water (approx. 1.5L). Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the beans begin to split and the rice grains swell.

   

3. Add the pear chunks (and the pear skins if reserved) along with the soaked lily bulbs. Continue simmering over low heat for 15-20 minutes, until the pear becomes soft and translucent, and the lily bulbs turn tender.

   

4. In the last 5 minutes, add goji berries and rock sugar. Stir well, letting the residual heat dissolve the sugar completely.

   

5. Use a spoon to remove and discard the cooked pear skins. Serve warm or chilled (perfect as a cold dessert in summer). The porridge is clear and slightly thickened, with a pale green hue dotted with white and red – refreshing and beautiful.

   

TCM Notes

Core effect – clearing summer heat, moistening lungs & promoting fluids: Mung beans are cold in nature and rich in protein, B vitamins and potassium – they effectively remove heat and replenish electrolytes lost through sweating；snow pear is over 85% water, packed with sorbitol and fructose, swiftly moisturizing the throat and digestive mucosa；mucilage in lily bulbs soothes dryness and clears heat – together they "cool and humidify" the body. Mind-calming & sleep-improving: Lily bulbs act on the heart and lung meridians – their glycosides and colchicine have sedative effects on the central nervous system, relieving restlessness and insomnia caused by heart-fire；tryptophan in mung beans is a precursor to serotonin, synergistically promoting sleep. Detoxification, diuresis & edema relief: Mung beans are rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants, promoting intestinal peristalsis and adsorbing toxins；flavonoids in mung beans have mild diuretic effects, helping expel excess water and reduce summer edema. Immunity boost & antioxidant: Snow pear provides vitamin C and chlorogenic acid；lily bulbs supply multiple alkaloids；mung beans are packed with polyphenols – together they scavenge free radicals, enhance macrophage activity, and strengthen disease resistance. Hydration & electrolyte replenishment: This porridge has extremely high water content while supplying potassium, magnesium, calcium and other minerals – making it an ideal natural rehydration drink after sweating.

Suitable for：Those suffering from summer heat, dry mouth, sore throat, or excessive thirst People with lung-heat cough (dry cough with scanty or yellow phlegm) or dryness harming the lungs Outdoor summer workers or those needing cooling and rehydration after exercise Those with heart-fire causing irritability, insomnia, or restless dreams Individuals with frequent late nights, spicy/smoky food intake, or prone to "excessive heat" People with dry skin needing internal hydration Those with mild constipation (dietary fiber and sorbitol in mung beans and pear provide gentle laxative effects)

Not suitable for：Severe spleen-stomach deficiency-cold (Use with extreme caution!)：Symptoms include intolerance to cold, abdominal pain relieved by warmth, loose stools, diarrhea triggered by cold foods – mung beans (cold), pear (cool), and lily bulbs (slightly cold) together create extreme coldness that severely worsens deficiency-cold conditions. If you must consume, add 5-6 slices of fresh ginger and 5 red dates to the pot to strongly counteract the cold nature, and limit to ≤1 small bowl (~150g) per serving – do not consume continuously for long periods. Wind-cold cough (Absolute contraindication!)：Symptoms include deep cough with thin white phlegm, clear runny nose, chills without sweating – this porridge is specifically for "heat-type" or "dry-type" coughs. Using it for wind-cold cough "adds frost to snow," trapping pathogens and worsening the condition. Diabetics (Caution)：Snow pear is relatively high in sugar (fructose ~10%), and mung beans/lily bulbs also contain starches – overall moderate-to-high glycemic index. Omit rock sugar entirely, strictly limit serving size to ≤100g, and monitor blood glucose 2 hours after consumption. Chronic diarrhea or acute enteritis patients：Mung bean's cold nature and fiber stimulate peristalsis, lily bulbs have mild laxative effects, and pear's sorbitol promotes bowel movements – together they will significantly aggravate diarrhea. Pregnant women (especially early stages or those with cold constitution)：Mung beans are cold and may stimulate the uterus in large amounts；lily bulbs are mild but cool. Cold-constitution pregnant women should avoid；warm-constitution women may consume small amounts (remove mung bean skins and only eat lily-pear porridge). Women during menstruation (especially those with cold-stagnation type dysmenorrhea)：Cold-natured ingredients may impede menstrual flow and worsen cramps – avoid during the period, or cook with brown sugar and ginger slices to balance.