瘦肉汁
Soup
街市Lean pork· 500 g街市Lean pork or chicken breast· 100–150 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 5–8 pcs街市Fresh ginger· 2–3 slices雜貨舖Salt· 1 tsp
“A warm mouthful is enough for now.”
Letters Home · 紅白藍家書
Soups after a birth
「Not in Hong Kong? Then she writes the pot down for you, the way she writes a letter.」
Letter after letter, pot after pot, for a daughter far from home.
What Hong Kong families tend to cook for someone who has just given birth. In Australia there is no 陪月 to hire and no mother in the next room, so most of it you cook yourself. These are soups and home dishes to choose from, not a programme to follow. Cook the ones that suit you and leave the rest.
When to drink what
How to read this material: these are eating habits from Hong Kong households, and they are worth having simply as good, nourishing home cooking. Where the tradition makes a claim we record it as a claim the tradition makes, not as medical advice and not as a course of treatment to complete. What suits your body, and whose advice you take, is between you and your own care team.
-
Days 1–3
The first few days
Families keep things light and easy to digest at the start.
-
Days 1–7
Around the first week
Still light. The tradition holds off on rich, tonic dishes this early.
-
Days 8–14
Around the second week
Cooking that is easy on the appetite.
-
Days 15–30
Later in the month
The richer dishes families associate with this part of the month.
What gets cooked, and when
Open a time to see the soups and dishes families cook then.
Days 1–3
The first few days
Families keep things light and easy to digest at the start.
Days 1–7
Around the first week
Still light. The tradition holds off on rich, tonic dishes this early.
五紅湯
Soup
百子櫃Peanut· 1 handful百子櫃Red jujube date· 1 handful百子櫃Adzuki bean· 1 handful百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 1 handful雜貨舖Brown/raw sugar· 15 g
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
山藥排骨湯
Soup
百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 8 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 5 pcs街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 300 g街市Pork spare ribs· 300 g
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
Dripped chicken essencefrom day 3
滴雞精
Drinklater after a caesarean
街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· 1 pc (about 1.2 kg)
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
生薑魚片湯
Soup
街市Fish slices· 200 g街市Fresh ginger· 5 slices百子櫃Red jujube date· 8 pcs
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
紅糖小米粥
Dish
百子櫃Millet· ½ cup (about 100 g)雜貨舖Brown/raw sugar· 2 tbsp百子櫃Dried longan flesh· 11 g百子櫃Fish maw (dried swim bladder)· soaked, 1 pc (about 50 g)百子櫃Red rice· 2 tbsp
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
菠菜豬肝湯
Soup
街市Pork liver· 100 g街市Spinach· 1 bunch街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
Steamed egg custard; eggs boiled in ginger and brown-sugar water (紅糖薑水煮蛋); ginger-vinegar eggs (薑醋蛋)from day 1
蒸水蛋
Dish
街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 2 pcs雜貨舖Brown/raw sugar· 1 tbsp街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices雜貨舖Sweet black vinegar· 1 tbsp
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
薑水
Drink
街市Fresh ginger· 40 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 4 pcs雜貨舖Brown/raw sugar· 2 tbsp
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
陳皮炒米茶
Drinklater after a caesarean
雜貨舖White rice· 1 cup百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 slice
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
麻油豬肝
DishContains alcohollater after a caesarean
街市Pork liver· 100 g街市Fresh ginger· 36 g雜貨舖Black sesame oil· 36 ml雜貨舖Rice wine (cooking wine)· 1 tbsp
“No rush to build you up. Slowly does it.”
Days 8–14
Around the second week
Cooking that is easy on the appetite.
二豆炒米茶
Drinklater after a caesarean
雜貨舖White rice· equal part百子櫃Adzuki bean· equal part百子櫃Black soybean· equal part百子櫃Millet· equal part百子櫃Red rice· equal part百子櫃Black rice· equal part
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
松子仁炒三文魚粒
Dish
街市Salmon· 300 g百子櫃Pine nut· 2 tbsp
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
栗子雪耳鯽魚湯
Soup
百子櫃Chestnut· 100 g街市Crucian carp· 1 pc百子櫃Snow fungus· 20 g百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 piece
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
瑤柱節瓜炆排骨
Dish
街市Pork spare ribs· 600 g街市Hairy gourd / fuzzy melon· 2 pcs百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· 3 pcs
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
田神湯
Soup
百子櫃Job's tears / coix seed· 20 g百子櫃Poria· 10 g百子櫃Lotus seed· 10 pcs百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 10 g百子櫃Candied honey date· 2 pcs街市Lean pork· 200 g
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
Diced ginger, salmon and egg fried ricefrom day 12
薑粒三文魚蛋炒飯
Dishlater after a caesarean
雜貨舖Cooked rice· 2 bowls街市Salmon fillet· 1 piece街市Fresh ginger· 1 tbsp (diced)街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 1 pc雜貨舖Salt· 1 tsp雜貨舖Cooking oil· 1 tbsp (15 ml)
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
Minced ginger fried ricefrom day 12
薑茸炒飯
Dishlater after a caesarean
雜貨舖Cooked rice· 2 bowls街市Fresh ginger· 1 tbsp (minced)街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 1 pc雜貨舖Salt· 1 tsp雜貨舖Cooking oil· 1 tbsp (15 ml)
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
Minced ginger and diced chicken fried ricefrom day 12
薑茸雞粒炒飯
Dishlater after a caesarean
雜貨舖Cooked rice· 2 bowls街市Chicken· 200 g街市Fresh ginger· 1 tbsp (minced)街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 2 pcs雜貨舖Salt· 1 tsp
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
蜜豆鮮百合炒雞柳
Dish
街市Chicken tenderloin· 250 g街市Honey snap peas· 150 g百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 1 pc
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
陳皮豬肚湯
Soup
街市Pork stomach (tripe)· 500 g百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 5 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 8 pcs街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
香煎三文魚扒
Dish
街市Salmon steak· 1 piece (about 180 g)街市Fresh ginger· 2 slices
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
麻油炒豬腰
DishContains alcohollater after a caesarean
街市Pork kidney· 1 pc街市Fresh ginger· 40 g雜貨舖Black sesame oil· 2 tbsp雜貨舖Rice wine (cooking wine)· 1 tbsp
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
麻油腰子麵線
DishContains alcohollater after a caesarean
百子櫃Wheat vermicelli· 1 bunch街市Pork kidney· half街市Fresh ginger· 6 slices街市Egg white· 1 egg white雜貨舖Black sesame oil· 2 tbsp雜貨舖Rice wine (cooking wine)· 1 tbsp…
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
Sesame oil and minced ginger fried ricefrom day 12
麻油薑茸炒飯
DishContains alcohollater after a caesarean
雜貨舖Cooked rice· 2 bowls雜貨舖Black sesame oil· 2 tbsp街市Fresh ginger· 1 tbsp (minced)雜貨舖Salt· 1 tsp雜貨舖Rice wine (cooking wine)· 1 tbsp
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
麻油雞扒
DishContains alcohollater after a caesarean
街市Chicken thigh fillet· 2 pieces (about 400 g)雜貨舖Black sesame oil· 2 tbsp街市Fresh ginger· 40 g雜貨舖Rice wine (cooking wine)· 1 tbsp
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
麻油麵線
DishContains alcohollater after a caesarean
百子櫃Wheat vermicelli· 1 bunch街市Fresh ginger· 6 slices雜貨舖Black sesame oil· 2 tbsp雜貨舖Rice wine (cooking wine)· 1 tbsp雜貨舖Superior stock· 500 ml雜貨舖Salt· 1 tsp
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
黑豆水
Drink
百子櫃Black soybean· ½ cup (about 100 g)
“Getting your appetite back is what matters.”
Days 15–30
Later in the month
The richer dishes families associate with this part of the month.
客家娘酒雞
DishContains alcohollater after a caesarean
雜貨舖Yellow rice wine· 1 tbsp街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· half, cut into pieces雜貨舖Black sesame oil· 1 tsp (5 ml)街市Fresh ginger· 3-4 slices, skin on百子櫃Red jujube date· 4-5 pcs, pitted百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· about 10 pcs
“Now we cook you something good.”
淮山杞子桂圓燉花膠
Dishlater after a caesarean
百子櫃Fish maw (dried swim bladder)· soaked, 2 pcs (about 150 g)百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 40 g百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 8 g百子櫃Dried longan flesh· 11 g街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· half街市Fresh milk· 250 ml…
“Now we cook you something good.”
甜醋排骨
Dish
雜貨舖Sweet black vinegar· 250 ml街市Pork spare ribs· 350 g街市Garlic· to taste, sliced雜貨舖Salt· ½ tsp雜貨舖Sweet black vinegar· 250 ml雜貨舖Cornflour· 1 tsp
“Now we cook you something good.”
紅棗桂圓雞湯
Souplater after a caesarean
街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· half百子櫃Red jujube date· 10 pcs, pitted百子櫃Dried longan flesh· 10 pcs街市Fresh ginger· 3-4 slices雜貨舖Salt· 1 tsp
“Now we cook you something good.”
紅糖蓮子百合糖水
Dish
百子櫃Lotus seed· 40 g百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 40 g雜貨舖Brown/raw sugar· 2 tbsp
“Now we cook you something good.”
芝麻糊
Dish
百子櫃Black sesame· 1 cup (about 150 g)雜貨舖Sugar· 3 tbsp雜貨舖White rice· 2 tbsp
“Now we cook you something good.”
花旗參瘦肉湯
Souplater after a caesarean
街市Lean pork· 300 g百子櫃American ginseng· 10 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 6-8 pcs街市Fresh ginger· 2-3 slices雜貨舖Salt· 1 tsp
“Now we cook you something good.”
花生紅棗糖水
Dish
百子櫃Peanut· 75 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 6 pcs百子櫃Rock sugar· 50 g
“Now we cook you something good.”
薑汁芝麻花生湯丸
Dishlater after a caesarean
雜貨舖Glutinous rice balls· 8 pcs百子櫃Black sesame· 2 tbsp百子櫃Peanut· 40 g街市Fresh ginger· 40 g雜貨舖Sugar· 2 tbsp
“Now we cook you something good.”
螺頭百合粟米湯
Souplater after a caesarean
百子櫃Dried conch / sea snail head· 2 pcs百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 1 tbsp百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 1 tbsp百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 40 g街市Corn / maize (with corn silk)· 1 pc百子櫃Candied honey date· 2 pcs…
“Now we cook you something good.”
豬腳薑醋
Dishlater after a caesarean
街市Pork hock· 1 pc街市Fresh ginger· 300 g街市Chicken egg (hard-boiled)· 5 pcs雜貨舖Sweet black vinegar· 1.5 L
“Now we cook you something good.”
Sesame oil chicken (contains alcohol)from day 14
麻油雞
DishContains alcohollater after a caesarean
街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· half雜貨舖Black sesame oil· 2 tbsp街市Fresh ginger· 40 g雜貨舖Rice wine (cooking wine)· 1 tbsp
“Now we cook you something good.”
Dishes linked with feeding
Cooked alongside the rest rather than as a stage of their own.
木瓜花生眉豆湯
SoupContains alcohol
街市Papaya· 1 pc (small)百子櫃Black-eyed pea· 38 g百子櫃Peanut· 38 g街市Chicken feet· 8 pcs街市Fish tail· 1 pc街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices…
“Feeding is hard work. Keep the soup coming.”
木瓜花生豬腳湯
Soup
街市Papaya· 1 pc百子櫃Peanut· 50 g百子櫃Black-eyed pea· 50 g街市Pork trotter· 1 pc百子櫃Red jujube date· 5 pcs百子櫃Snow fungus· 15 g
“Feeding is hard work. Keep the soup coming.”
木瓜豆腐魚湯
Soup
街市Papaya· 1 pc街市Tofu· 1 block街市Fish· 1 pc (about 500 g)街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices
“Feeding is hard work. Keep the soup coming.”
淮山杞子石祟魚湯
Soup
街市Rockfish· 600 g百子櫃Dried Chinese yam· 8–10 slices百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 1 tbsp百子櫃Euryale seed / foxnut· 1 tbsp百子櫃Red jujube date· 4–6 pcs (pitted)街市Fresh ginger· a few slices
“Feeding is hard work. Keep the soup coming.”
蓮藕花生黑豆排骨湯
Soup
街市Lotus root· 200 g百子櫃Peanut· 50 g百子櫃Black soybean· 50 g街市Pork spare ribs· 300 g
“Feeding is hard work. Keep the soup coming.”
Ginger milk curdfrom day 12
薑汁撞奶
Drinklater after a caesarean
街市Ginger juice· 1–1.5 tbsp街市Full-cream milk· 200 ml雜貨舖Sugar· 1 tsp (optional)
“Feeding is hard work. Keep the soup coming.”
Any time
Not tied to any part of the month.
冬菇瑤柱蒸雞
Dish
街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· half百子櫃Dried shiitake mushroom· 6–8 pcs百子櫃Dried scallop (conpoy)· 3 pcs
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
寧心安神茶
Drink
百子櫃Dried lily bulb· 12 g百子櫃Finger citron· 10 g百子櫃Red jujube date· 4 pcs百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 10 g
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
清蒸魚
Dish
街市Barramundi or garoupa· 1 pc (about 600 g)街市Fresh ginger· 3 slices街市Spring onion / scallion· 2 pcs雜貨舖Light soy sauce· 2 tbsp雜貨舖Hot oil· 1 tbsp百子櫃Preserved mustard greens· 1 head
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
炒米茶
Drinklater after a caesarean
雜貨舖White rice· 1 cup百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 slice
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
無花果合桃炒米茶
Drinklater after a caesarean
百子櫃Dried fig· 5 pcs百子櫃Walnut· 5 pcs百子櫃Roasted rice· 1 packet
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
玫瑰花杞子茶
Drink
百子櫃Rosebud· 3–5 pcs百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 10–15 pcsHot water· 200 ml
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
紅棗杞子炒米茶
Drinklater after a caesarean
百子櫃Roasted rice· 2 tbsp百子櫃Red jujube date· 4 pcs百子櫃Goji berry / wolfberry· 8 g
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
蜂蜜芝麻潤腸茶
Drink
百子櫃Black sesame· 2 tbsp雜貨舖Honey· 1 tsp (5 ml)Hot water· 1 cup (about 250 ml)
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
金針雲耳蒸雞
Dish
街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· half百子櫃Dried daylily buds· 19 g百子櫃Cloud ear fungus· 1 pinch
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
陳皮蒸雞
Dish
街市Fresh chicken (whole or half)· half百子櫃Aged dried tangerine peel· 1 piece雜貨舖Salt· 1 tsp (5 g)
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
魷魚蒸肉餅
Dish
街市Pork mince· 300 g百子櫃Dried squid· 1 pc
“Any time at all. Keep your stomach warm.”
Information only. This page records a food tradition and is not medical advice. Recovery differs for everyone. If you are breastfeeding, recovering from a caesarean, taking medication, or feeling unwell, speak to your doctor, midwife or a registered practitioner first. Full statement
Letters from Ah Ma · 信箱
留低個地址啦LEAVE YOUR ADDRESS
「留低個地址啦，有靚湯阿媽就叫你返嚟飲湯。」
One letter a week, at most. When there’s good soup, Ah Ma will call you home for soup.
No spam, no guilt. Ah Ma doesn’t do either. 保重身體。