Lily It is a herbaceous plant of the Liliaceae family, with an underground bulb composed of numerous fleshy scales tightly clasped together. The name “bai he” (lily) conveys the auspicious meaning of “a hundred scales uniting in harmony for a century,” hence its name. It serves both as a yin-tonifying traditional Chinese medicinal herb and as a widely beloved culinary ingredient. After being dug up in autumn, it is washed, the scale leaves are peeled off, briefly blanched in boiling water, and then dried—after which it can be used medicinally or eaten.

Traditional Chinese Medicine It is believed that lily bulbs have a sweet taste and a slightly cool nature, with effects such as nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, clearing the stomach and nourishing yin, and clearing the heart and calming the spirit; they are particularly effective in nourishing yin and relieving dryness, and can be used to treat Yin deficiency It is indicated for dry cough, consumptive cough with hemoptysis, low-grade fever accompanied by vexation and irritability, palpitations and insomnia, as well as chronic pulmonary diseases and gastrointestinal ulcers. In autumn, when dryness prevails, consuming lily bulbs is particularly appropriate. Lilies are rich in starch, protein, and a variety of vitamins, making them highly nutritious, with a distinctive texture—soft, glutinous, and delicately fragrant. They can be prepared in numerous ways: stir-fried, used in soups, cooked into porridge, or made into creamy soups—providing both culinary delight and supportive therapeutic benefits. Below are a few recommended lily-based delicacies.

Lily White fungus Porridge

Ingredients: 50 grams of lily bulbs, 100 grams of japonica rice, 20 grams of white fungus, and sugar to taste.

Preparation: First, rinse the lily bulbs and glutinous rice separately until clean, then place them in a pot with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer gently until both are thoroughly tender. Add the white fungus and sugar, cook briefly, and the dish is ready.

Benefits: This porridge is sweet, refreshing, and delicious; it nourishes the lungs and moistens them, making it particularly suitable for middle-aged and elderly individuals as well as those who are weak after illness. It is especially beneficial for people experiencing prolonged dry cough, irritability, and restlessness.

Lily and Snow Pear Drink

Ingredients: 20 grams of lily bulbs, 1 large snow pear, and 10 grams of rock sugar.

Preparation: Wash the lilies thoroughly, peel and core the snow pears, then cut them into small pieces. Place all ingredients in a pot, add 1,000 milliliters of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 60 minutes.

Benefits: This beverage moistens the lungs and relieves cough, while nourishing the heart and calming the spirit. Consuming the soup with lily bulbs and snow pears can help alleviate autumn dryness symptoms such as irritability and insomnia, dry cough with little phlegm, and dry throat and mouth.

Stir-fried Lily Bulbs with Celery

Ingredients: 150 grams of fresh lilies, 30 grams of celery, black Wood ear (Dry) 25 grams.

Preparation: Use appropriate amounts of garlic slices, scallion segments, white sugar, water starch, salt, and monosodium glutamate. Wash the lily bulbs thoroughly; soak the wood ear mushrooms until soft, reshape them, and then wash again; remove the fibrous strings from the celery and cut it into diamond-shaped pieces. Heat oil and salt in a wok, add the three ingredients, stir-fry briefly, then remove from the heat and drain. Moisture Add more oil to the wok, then stir-fry ginger slices and scallion segments until fragrant. Add the three ingredients and stir-fry briefly, season with salt, monosodium glutamate, and white sugar, and thicken with a slurry of water and cornstarch before serving.

Benefits: This dish is a time-honored classic that nourishes yin and clears heat, tonifies deficiency and harmonizes the liver—making it particularly suitable for middle-aged and elderly individuals with inherent yin deficiency, as well as for patients with hypertension.

Lily Dried tangerine peel Carp Soup

Ingredients: 80 grams of lily bulbs, 5 grams of dried tangerine peel, 2 crucian carps, and 200 grams of pork. Ginger Three slices, a pinch of salt and a dash of sesame oil.

Preparation: Wash the lily bulbs and dried tangerine peel thoroughly, then soak them briefly; gut and rinse the crucian carp, rub the inside of the cavity with a pinch of salt, and let it marinate for 10 minutes; then pan-fry over low heat until lightly golden. Wash the pork but do not cut it. Place all the ingredients in an earthenware pot, add 2,500 milliliters of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 2 hours. Season with salt and sesame oil to taste. Drink the soup, and mix the lily bulbs, fish, and pork with soy sauce before eating.

Benefits: This dietary formula calms the mind and tranquilizes the spirit, tonifies qi and strengthens the spleen, promotes diuresis and reduces swelling. It is highly effective in alleviating symptoms of autumn dryness, improving sleep, enhancing appetite, combating autumn fatigue, and providing adjunctive treatment for edema.

Lily Goji Berries and Red Dates Soup

Ingredients: 20 grams of lily bulbs, 15 grams of goji berries, 5 red dates, 1 egg yolk, and rock sugar to taste.

Preparation: Wash the lily bulbs and goji berries, soak them for 15 minutes, then drain well; wash the red dates, remove the pits, and tear them into small pieces. Place all three ingredients in a pot, add 1,000 milliliters of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer until the ingredients are soft and tender. Stir in the mashed egg yolk and rock sugar, continuing to stir as you cook until the mixture thickens into a creamy porridge.

Benefits: This soup nourishes the blood and calms the spirit, while tonifying the kidneys and moistening the lungs—making it especially suitable for yin deficiency. Physical condition And those accompanied by palpitations, insomnia, dry mouth, and dry throat.