Chinese Celery, Red Date and Lean Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Celery is one of those vegetables that has long had a reputation, both in Western nutritional science and Chinese food therapy, for supporting healthy blood pressure. There are two main types: the thick-stalked Western celery found in most supermarkets, and the slender, intensely fragrant Chinese medicinal celery (yao qin) available at Asian grocery stores. The Chinese variety has a far more concentrated flavour and is considered more therapeutically effective in traditional food therapy. Crucially, it is the leaves — often discarded when stir-frying — that contain the highest concentrations of carotene, vitamin C, calcium, iron and potassium. This recipe turns those nutrient-rich leaves into a flavourful broth by pairing them with red dates and lean pork. The result is light, slightly bitter-sweet, and genuinely easy to make on a weeknight.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for people looking to support healthy blood pressure through everyday cooking
• Also traditionally associated with supporting those with iron-deficiency anaemia, as celery leaves are rich in iron
• Those with a cold or weak spleen-stomach constitution should avoid large amounts of celery, as it is cooling in nature
• People with active skin conditions (scabies, rashes, boils) should avoid celery
• Celery is cooling — pairing it with red dates and lean pork helps balance this in the soup

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Chinese medicinal celery (yao qin): Used in traditional Chinese medicine to calm the liver, clear heat, dispel wind and support urination. Particularly associated with easing headaches, dizziness and flushed face linked to liver-heat patterns. The leaves contain more micronutrients than the stalks.
• Red dates (hong zao): Warming and nourishing — they help balance the cooling nature of celery while adding natural sweetness and blood-nourishing properties to the soup.
• Lean pork: Provides complete protein and mild nourishment, making the soup more sustaining and balancing the bitterness of the celery leaves.

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Chinese medicinal celery, stems and leaves	3 liang (~113 g)	Remove roots, wash, cut into sections
Red dates	6 pieces	Pit
Lean pork	6 liang (~225 g)	Blanch, then slice
Water	6 bowls (~1.5 L)

Method

1. Remove the roots from the celery and wash well. Cut into sections about 5–6 cm long.
2. Pit the red dates.
3. Blanch the lean pork briefly in boiling water, then drain and slice into pieces.
4. Place all ingredients into a pot with 6 bowls of water.
5. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a medium simmer for about 30 minutes until the liquid reduces to about 4 bowls.
6. Serve warm. The soup has a light, naturally savoury flavour.

Bro Niu’s tips

This soup does double duty: alongside its traditional association with blood pressure support, it is also beneficial for those who have iron-deficiency anaemia, thanks to the iron content in both the celery leaves and the lean pork. Those with a cold spleen-stomach constitution should limit this soup, as celery is cooling. People with active skin eruptions should also avoid it.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Anny): My mother has high blood pressure and has been taking a chicken essence supplement for over a year, but recently her blood pressure has become unstable and she feels more tired. What can replace the supplement? Bro Niu: Drip-chicken essence can be a good supplement — look for versions that include herbs like eucommia bark (du zhong) for additional kidney and blood pressure support. When time allows, freshly blending celery and apple juice is also helpful for blood pressure with very few side effects.

• Q (Anny): What soup can help with fatigue and improve energy? Bro Niu: Try simmering huang qi (astragalus, 3 qian), dang shen (codonopsis, 3 qian), red dates (6 pieces) and 2 slices of ginger in a fresh fish or chicken soup. This supports qi and blood and eases fatigue — 2–3 servings per week. Borscht with red beetroot also nourishes qi and blood.

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Published October 14, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.