Papaya and Snow Fungus Sweet Soup (IDDSI Level 3-4) | IDDSI Level 3-4 Care Food Recipe

IDDSI Level 4 | 60 minutes | Easy

Ingredients (2 servings)

• 1/2 ripe papaya (approximately 300g flesh)
• 10g dried snow fungus (yields approx. 80g after soaking)
• 20–30g rock sugar (adjust to taste)
• 800ml water
• 3 dried red dates (pitted, optional)
• 1 tbsp wolfberries / goji berries (optional)

Where to Buy in Hong Kong

Ripe papaya is available year-round at PARKnSHOP, Wellcome, and wet markets — choose one with an orange-yellow skin that gives slightly when pressed. Dried snow fungus (雪耳, also labelled silver ear mushroom) is sold in the dried goods aisle at PARKnSHOP, Wellcome, city’super, and most wet market dried food stalls. Rock sugar is stocked in most supermarkets.

Method

1. Soak the dried snow fungus in cold water for 30 minutes until fully rehydrated (it expands approximately 8-fold in volume)
2. Remove and discard the tough yellow core at the base of each cluster; tear or snip into small florets; rinse thoroughly
3. Bring water to the boil in a pot; add the snow fungus florets and pitted red dates; reduce to a low simmer
4. Simmer for 30–40 minutes until the snow fungus is completely soft, gelatinous, and translucent (it should squash easily between two fingers)
5. Add rock sugar and stir until dissolved
6. Add wolfberries if using; simmer for a further 5 minutes
7. Peel and deseed the papaya; cut into chunks
8. For Level 4: Place the papaya chunks and approximately 200ml of the sweet soup into a blender; blend on high speed until completely smooth
9. Stir the papaya puree back into the snow fungus soup and mix well
10. For a fully Level 4 dish, blend all contents including snow fungus and sieve; for Level 5-6, retain the softened snow fungus florets

IDDSI Texture Options

This recipe can be prepared at two IDDSI levels:

• Level 4 (fully blended): All ingredients including snow fungus are blended and strained through a fine mesh sieve — completely smooth puree suitable for Level 4 or below
• Level 5-6 (retaining soft snow fungus): Papaya is blended; the fully softened snow fungus florets are retained in the soup. Each floret must be small enough (under 1.5cm) and soft enough to be mashed by tongue pressure alone — suitable for Level 5-6 patients

Cultural Note

Papaya and snow fungus sweet soup (木瓜雪耳糖水) is a classic Hong Kong home dessert. Snow fungus (雪耳, also called silver ear fungus or tremella fuciformis) is prized in Cantonese wellness culture for its rich polysaccharide content, traditionally believed to nourish the lungs and skin. This familiar dessert form helps maintain the pleasure of eating for elderly patients on modified-texture diets.

Texture Test

Level 4 (fully blended) fork test: Passes — the puree is uniformly smooth, clings to the back of a fork, slides off slowly when tilted; no particles, fibres, or skin fragments visible.

Level 5-6 (snow fungus retained): Each snow fungus floret should be flattened completely with gentle fork pressure and mashed by tongue pressure alone; size must not exceed 1.5cm.

Sweetness note: Papaya contains natural sugar — reduce rock sugar accordingly. For patients with diabetes, rock sugar can be omitted entirely or replaced with a small amount of stevia.

Notes

• Remove the tough yellow base (core) of each snow fungus cluster before cooking — it remains firm even after prolonged simmering and is not safe for dysphagia patients
• For Level 4, sieve the blended mixture through a fine mesh to eliminate fibres — do not skip this step
• Remove all papaya seeds and skin before blending
• The soup thickens slightly as it cools; if too thick when serving, add a little warm water and stir

Nutrition

Approximately 120 kcal per serving, 3g dietary fibre. Papaya is rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and papain (a digestive enzyme). Snow fungus contains polysaccharides and natural plant gelatine, which contribute to the dessert’s thickening effect without artificial additives. The dish is low in fat and protein — serve as a dessert supplement to a main meal; if additional protein is needed, serve alongside a small portion of silken tofu pudding.