Soups
Red-Skinned Peanut, Goji, Black-Boned Chicken and Conch Soup
Traditionally used to nourish yin and blood and support the complexion
Why people make this soup
Black-boned chicken is rich in protein, minerals and vitamins, and in traditional thinking nourishes yin, clears heat and supports the liver and kidneys — a lovely autumn-winter tonic. Bro Niu had some dried conch sitting in the fridge that he nearly forgot; conch traditionally nourishes yin and the kidneys, good for those who burn the midnight oil. With red-skinned peanut, goji and red dates, this pot is made to nourish yin and blood, support the complexion, and ease the signs of aging.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Those with weak qi and blood, frequent late nights and short sleep, or signs of anemia or fragile bones; women in particular may enjoy it often.
- Not suitable for those who still have an active, unresolved cold.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Black-boned chicken (wu ji): traditionally nourishes yin, clears heat and supports the liver and kidneys.
- Dried conch (luo tou): traditionally nourishes yin and the kidneys, good for those short on sleep.
- Red-skinned peanut (hong yi hua sheng): traditionally nourishes the blood; the red skin is especially valued for those with low platelets.
- Goji (gou qi zi) and red dates (hong zao): traditionally nourish the liver and the blood.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Red-skinned peanuts (hong yi hua sheng) | ~38 g | Soak and rinse |
| Goji (gou qi zi) | ~11 g | Soak and rinse |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 6 | Pitted |
| Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) | 3 slices | |
| Black-boned chicken (wu ji) | half | Chop into large pieces, blanch |
| Dried conch (luo tou) | 5 pieces | Soak at least 2 hours, then blanch |
Method
- Soak and rinse the red-skinned peanuts, goji and conch; pit the red dates.
- Chop the black-boned chicken into large pieces and blanch together with the conch.
- Combine everything with 9 bowls of water and simmer for 2 hours down to 4–5 bowls.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is sweet and tasty, good for young and old, and especially nourishing for those with weak qi and blood, poor sleep, anemia or fragile bones. But skip it if you still have an unresolved cold.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Christine): My child is allergic to peanuts — what can I use instead that still nourishes the blood? And can a 2-year-old drink it? Bro Niu: You can use black mulberries (sang shen) or black dates (nan zao), which nourish the kidneys and the blood. Yes, a 2-year-old may drink it.
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Q (Ying): Lately my family member has a dry mouth, sudden coughs morning and night, and mouth sores, and recently had some loose stools. What soup and foods suit? Bro Niu: Try ~19 g yu zhu, ~38 g north-and-south almonds, 4 figs and 6 dried snow-pear slices (or 2 fresh snow pears) simmered in 7 bowls of water down to 4 bowls, split over 2 days or shared by the family, to nourish yin, moisten dryness and ease the cough.
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Q (Xiaoqing): The red conch is very hard — how long do you usually soak it? Bro Niu: I usually soak it for at least 2 hours before cooking.
Published November 24, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
