Old Cucumber Soup with Chicken (Chinese Style)
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 2 hours | Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes | Servings: 4-6
This old cucumber soup with chicken is mellow with natural subtle sweetness from the goji berries and red dates. I usually use pork bones but for this recipes I used chicken legs instead.
Watch How to Make It
Equipment
Any 5L pot or Tanyu 5L Claypot Stockpot — Shopee | Lazada
What Is Old Cucumber?
Old cucumber, or lao huang gua (老黄瓜), is simply a mature cucumber left to ripen on the vine. Its outer skin turns brown, and the flesh becomes firmer and drier compared to young cucumbers. When cooked, it becomes soft but not mushy and adds a unique, slightly sweet flavour to soups. It’s also rich in fiber and said to have cooling properties in traditional Chinese medicine. When preparing this soup, you do not need to peel off the skin.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Serves 4-6
- 1 old cucumber, about 800 grams (1个老黄瓜，约800克)
- 2 whole chicken legs, about 700 grams (2只全鸡腿，约700克)
- 25 grams goji berries (25克枸杞) (buy from Shopee, Lazada and Amazon)
- 4-5 red dates, about 25 grams, pitted (4-5颗红枣，约25克，去核)
- 3 litres water (3升水)
- Salt, to taste (盐，适量)
How to Make Old Cucumber Soup with Chicken
Step 1 — Prepare the chicken
Clean the chicken thoroughly with water. Remove any red clots around the bone area. If you don’t want the soup to be too oily, remove the skin.
Step 2 — Prepare the old cucumber and dried ingredients
Rinse the old cucumber thoroughly, cut it in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds, then slice it into large chunks. There is no need to peel the skin. Rinse the red dates and goji berries.
Tip: Leave the skin on. It holds the chunks together through the long simmer so they don’t break down completely.
Step 3 — Bring everything to a boil
Put the old cucumber, chicken, red dates and goji berries into a large pot. Add 3 litres of water and bring it to a boil over high heat.
Step 4 — Simmer and season
Lower the heat and simmer gently for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the cucumber is soft, the chicken is tender and the broth has turned golden. Season with salt to taste before serving.
Tips for the Best Old Cucumber Soup with Chicken
- Choose a heavy firm cucumber. A good old cucumber feels heavy for its size and has a firm, cracked-looking skin. Soft spots mean it is past its best.
- Remove the chicken skin for a lighter soup. The skin renders a lot of fat over two hours. Take it off if you prefer a cleaner, less oily broth.
- Season at the end. The soup reduces as it simmers, so salting early can leave it too salty. Add salt just before serving.
What to Serve with Old Cucumber Soup with Chicken
In a Chinese meal, soup is served alongside the other dishes rather than as a starter. Serve this with steamed rice and two or three simple dishes, such as a stir fry and a steamed dish. The chicken can be lifted out, torn into pieces and eaten with soy sauce on the side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is old cucumber soup cooling or heaty?
Old cucumber soup is considered cooling in Chinese food traditions, which is why it is popular in hot weather. This is a traditional belief rather than a medical claim.
How long do I need to cook old cucumber soup?
Simmer it for 1.5 to 2 hours. The cucumber should be soft enough to break apart when pressed with a spoon.
Do I need to remove the skin and seeds from the old cucumber?
Remove the seeds, but leave the skin on.
Can I use pork ribs instead of chicken?
Yes. Pork ribs or pork bones are the more common choice and give a richer, heavier broth. Use about the same weight and simmer for the same time.
How do I store leftover old cucumber soup?
Keep it in the fridge in a covered container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove.
Tried this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out! Don’t forget to tag @ruyiasianrecipes if you share it on social media.
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Old Cucumber Soup with Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 old cucumber, about 800 grams (1个老黄瓜，约800克)
- 2 whole chicken legs, about 700 grams (2只全鸡腿，约700克)
- 25 grams goji berries (25克枸杞)
- 4-5 red dates, about 25 grams, pitted (4-5颗红枣，约25克，去核)
- 3 litres water (3升水)
- Salt, to taste (盐，适量)
Instructions
Step 1 — Prepare the chicken
- Clean the chicken thoroughly with water.
- Remove any red clots around the bone area.
- If you don’t want the soup to be too oily, remove the skin.
Step 2 — Prepare the old cucumber and dried ingredients
- Rinse the old cucumber thoroughly, cut it in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds, then slice it into large chunks. There is no need to peel the skin.
- Rinse the red dates and goji berries.
- Tip: Leave the skin on. It holds the chunks together through the long simmer so they don’t break down completely.
Step 3 — Bring everything to a boil
- Put the old cucumber, chicken, red dates and goji berries into a large pot.
- Add 3 litres of water and bring it to a boil over high heat.
Step 4 — Simmer and season
- Lower the heat and simmer gently for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the cucumber is soft, the chicken is tender and the broth has turned golden.
- Season with salt to taste before serving.
Video
Notes
- Choose a heavy firm cucumber. A good old cucumber feels heavy for its size and has a firm, cracked-looking skin. Soft spots mean it is past its best.
- Remove the chicken skin for a lighter soup. The skin renders a lot of fat over two hours. Take it off if you prefer a cleaner, less oily broth.
- Season at the end. The soup reduces as it simmers, so salting early can leave it too salty. Add salt just before serving.
