Grain Buds · Tea break · Qi Deficiency
Pumpkin & sweet corn soup
Microwave, blend and done — naturally sweet pumpkin and corn, warming and with no added sugar.
- 18 min
- Serves 2
- Microwave
- Easy
WarmingStrengthens digestion & qiSettles stomach, drains damp
Why it suits you: Qi Deficiency means tiring easily and a so-so appetite, and Grain Buds humidity makes the body feel heavier still. Pumpkin builds qi, corn settles the stomach and drains damp, and a warm blended soup is easy to digest — a gentle afternoon top-up.
Method
Prep 10 min · Cook 8 min- 1Peel and deseed the pumpkin and cut into small dice. Cut the kernels off the corn cob.
- 2Put the pumpkin and corn in a microwave bowl with 3 tbsp water, cover and cook on high for 6–7 minutes, until a chopstick slides into the pumpkin.
- 3Set aside 2 tbsp of corn. Blend the rest with the hot water until smooth, then season with salt and a little pepper.
- 4Scatter over the reserved corn and drink warm, or pour into a flask for the office.
Cautions
- Watching your blood sugar? Keep to one small cup and count the pumpkin and corn as your carbohydrate.
Chef's tips
- No blender? Mash with a potato masher — a coarser texture is just as tasty.
- Make it the night before, reheat in the morning and pour into a flask; it is just warm by the afternoon.
The TCM view
Pumpkin is sweet and warm and builds qi; sweet corn is sweet and neutral, settles the stomach and gently drains damp; a pinch of white pepper is pungent and warm and helps digestion. Mainly sweet and warm without being heavy, it strengthens the spleen while helping to clear damp — suited to low qi in a humid season.
