It’s evident worldwide to drink or eat cold drinks and food during summer to beat the summer hit. But for some people, the way to beat hot is through hot, which means to eat or drink hot foods or drinks. 


While it may not be as tempting as ice cream, hot soups might be one of the most delicate dishes to enjoy on a hot day. A sizzling hot dish may put your body more in balance since people naturally sweat when they consume warm or spicy meals. 


When we ingest hot meals or drinks, it elevates our body temperature, which tells our body gauge to cool us down; thus, we start sweating as a reaction. That sweat starts to evaporate, which naturally cools our body down.


Suitable for Singaporean people as soups are a very common dish in the country. Whether it's hot or monsoon season, they can enjoy various soups and share them with their loved ones. In this article, let us look at the ten popular soups in the country for your summer cravings. 


  1. Samgyetang

"Samgyetang" refers to a dish consisting of a whole chicken poached in a flavorful broth made from ginseng, jujube dates, green onion, and garlic cloves. Samgyetang is a reviving food that Koreans enjoy during the summertime since it is said to offer people energy when they are feeling weak and also helps them to resist the heat. Samgyetang was originally a soup made from fermented soybeans. 


Because the flesh of young chickens is more sensitive and delicate, it is often utilized in Samgyetang. Although the meal may not appeal to everyone's taste, it is healthy comfort food that is particularly well suited for individuals who have compromised digestive systems and often get overheated.


  1. NaengMyeon

Cold noodles, also known as naengmyeon, are a specialty dish originating in Korea and are often consumed during the winter. On the other hand, the contemporary man has given in to the temptations of consuming it in the summer to feel more refreshed. 


It is customary to consume the noodles in a pool of very cold soup and to complement them with toppings such as thinly sliced beef, cucumbers, pears, pickled radishes, and hard-boiled eggs. It is served in a metal bowl, most likely so that the temperature would be maintained for as long as possible.


  1. Pork Rib with Apple & Snow Pear Soup

A soup that is created with pears and apples! Apple and Pear Pork Rib Soup is said to have originated in China. It is thought to contain characteristics that are beneficial to your throat and lungs and have anti-aging effects. 


Although some preparation work and time are needed for the soup to simmer to perfection, the result is well worth the effort that was put in to make it.


  1. Lotus Root Soup with Peanut

The Cantonese soup recipe known as lotus root soup with peanuts is a dish that is not only tasty but also light and healthful. A Chinese soup that takes a long time to prepare, like this one, is reputed to be healthy. Although lotus root soup may be boiled at any time of the year, the traditional Chinese slow-cooked stew is traditionally served around the Chinese New Year because of the good connotations associated with the soup. Peanuts symbolize riches, while lotus roots represent an abundant supply.


It is often believed that the health benefits of Chinese soups come from their slow cooking methods. When it comes to lotus root soup that has been slow-cooked, it is consumed to enhance the level of yin in the body. Traditional Chinese medicine's ideas hold that to have a healthy body; there must be a balance between yin and yang. Because of this, food with cooling characteristics, such as lotus root, should be ingested when the body is "heated" or out of balance with too much "yang."


  1. Chinese Old Cucumber Soup

Cucumber soup made with an older cucumber, whether cooked on low heat or in a slow cooker, has a lot of flavors and is highly healthy. It is often prepared by boiling it with dried oysters, dried scallops, and dates in addition to either chicken or pork.


After letting this soup simmer over low heat for a couple of hours, the old cucumber will become quite pliable and have a texture similar to that of cream. The Chinese community refers to it as "lou wong kua," and it is renowned for its many positive effects on one's health. There is evidence that it may slow down the aging process due to the high levels of dietary fiber, iron, and calcium that it contains.


It is believed that the cooling effects of this soup come from the aged cucumber used in the dish's preparation. Since of this, women who are pregnant or in menstruation should probably avoid doing this because it might be too cooling and alter the yin and yang balance in the body.


  1. Fresh Watercress Soup

It is not difficult to prepare a watercress soup that is both simple and tasty. The main ingredients in this dish are bunches of fresh watercress, a dash of white wine, and potatoes for texture and bulk.


Mustard greens and watercress are both members of the same family. It may be seen growing wild in moving water throughout the whole year. Be on the lookout for bright, dark green, and spotless leaves. If you notice any blossoms on the watercress, it indicates it will be bitter.


You should keep the stems while making this soup. Be careful to give the greens several washes in a sink or basin full of ice water before using them. Continue to wash until there is no more visible dirt. Take out and dispose of any stems that are wilted or turning yellow.


  1. Mummy's ABC Soup

Occasionally, pork ribs or chicken are used to make ABC Soup. Additionally, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, onions, and sometimes celery are included in the ingredient list. It is a healthy soup many Chinese children have grown up with and is one of the family's favorite soups. Many Chinese children have grown up with it.


You may be curious about the origin of the name "ABC Soup." The term "ABC soup" makes it seem like there are letters of the alphabet in the bowl of soup, right? But unfortunately, the soup does not include any letters of the alphabet. The origin of the name of this soup is unclear, but the best bet is that it has something to do with the fact that it can be prepared with as little effort as possible. 


It would seem that this soup got its name from the vitamins that come from the vegetables that are included in it: vitamin A (from carrots), vitamin B (from potatoes), and vitamin C (from tomatoes) (tomatoes). Because the components are so convenient in the kitchen, this is undoubtedly one of the soups you prepare at home more often than any other.


  1. Salted Vegetable Duck Soup

The secret to producing the greatest Salted Vegetable Duck Soup, along with the key to making most of the meals that are served in Teochew, which is a city in the eastern province of China, is in the quality and freshness of the ingredients, as well as in allowing sufficient time for boiling. This guarantees that the meat easily separates from the bone when served. A fun fact about this soup is that it is believed to stimulate one's appetite due to its salty and savory flavor.


When creating this soup, one of the most frequent mistakes that beginning cooks make is that they do not change the water enough when soaking the Kiam Chye so that the stew would not be overly salty. If you do so, however, the saltiness of the Kiam Chye will keep seeping out into the water owing to osmosis, and the water will be diluted and flavorless.


So remember that you shouldn't switch out the water while the item is soaked. The salinity of the Kiam Chye will equalize with the saltiness of the soaking water, allowing the Kiam Chye to keep its flavor while the water's salt level reaches saturation.


  1. Sea Coconut Chicken Soup

In addition to alleviating coughing, hydrating the lungs, feeding yin, and eradicating dryness are some of the benefits that sea coconut may provide. The chicken, which has a naturally sweet and warm quality, warms the center and nourishes qi; it also soothes the mind and feeds the heart; it nourishes the deficiency and essence; it stimulates the brain and the stomach, and it stimulates blood circulation.


  1. Black chicken herbal soup

The term "black chicken" refers to a type of chicken with black pigmentation that may have either black or white feathers. This breed may be distinguished from others of its kind by having feathers that resemble fur and, of course, dark flesh. Many people consider black chicken soup a spicy dish and eat it as a meal. This makes it an excellent choice for nursing moms, who look for warmth not just in their clothing or beneath a blanket but also in the food they consume regularly. 


How does black chicken taste? Despite its appearance, the flavor is identical to that of a typical chicken. In all honesty, there isn't much of a difference between the two, and if you eat without looking, you may not even realize you're eating black chicken.



Sources:


  1. https://pepperandsaltkitchen.com/2021/07/20/benefits-of-eating-hot-soup-in-the-summer-heat/ 
  2. Top comfort foods to beat the Summer (Samgyetang & Naengmyeon) | The world is your oyster (wordpress.com)
  3. Apple & Pear Pork Rib Soup Recipe | How To Make Apple & Pear Pork Rib Soup (asianfoodnetwork.com)
  4. Lotus Root Soup with Peanuts - Southeast Asian Recipes - Nyonya Cooking
  5. Old Cucumber Soup - Southeast Asian Recipes - Nyonya Cooking
  6. Watercress Soup Recipe (simplyrecipes.com)
  7. ABC Soup 罗宋汤 - Souper Diaries
  8. Salted Vegetable Duck Soup Recipe | How To Make Salted Vegatable Duck Soup (asianfoodnetwork.com)
  9. https://www.theburningkitchen.com/salted-vegetable-duck-soup/ 
  10. Sea Coconut Chicken Soup Recipe - Simple Chinese Food
  11. EasyToMake Black Chicken Soup for New Mothers - Confinement Soup Singapore (tianweisignature.com)