Astragalus, Goji Berry and Red Date Silkie Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

During a period when immunity is on everyone’s mind, Nourilo kept being asked the same question: what should I eat to strengthen my body’s defences? This soup is his reliable answer. Astragalus (bei qi, also written huang qi) is one of the best-studied adaptogenic herbs in Chinese medicine — it is associated with stimulating the production of immune cells, supporting the body’s natural defences against viral and bacterial challenge, and helping the body cope with stress and fatigue. Paired with goji berries and red dates (classic qi and blood tonics), and slow-cooked with silkie chicken (a breed prized for its particularly dark, nutrient-dense meat), you get a soup that is both genuinely nourishing and pleasant to eat. Nourilo notes that most tonic herbs help support immune function to some degree — but this combination is especially practical because it is not overly warming or drying, making it broadly suitable without needing a precise constitution diagnosis first.

Method

1. Rinse the astragalus and goji berries. Pit the red dates.
2. Clean and prepare the silkie chicken: remove head and tail, chop into large pieces, then blanch briefly in boiling water. Drain and rinse.
3. Place all ingredients in a pot with 2.4–2.7 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 1.5 hours until the liquid reduces to 1.2–1.5 L.
5. Serve the broth and eat the chicken and other ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

Astragalus, goji berries, and red dates are all tonic ingredients that support without being excessively warm or drying — they are suitable for most people most of the time, and the mild herb flavour makes this soup very approachable even for those new to Chinese herbal soups. For those with diabetes who still want to enjoy this soup, replace the red dates with coconut dates (jiao zao), which do not elevate blood glucose in the same way. Note that this soup should be avoided during an active cold or fever — wait until the illness has passed before resuming.