Soups
Carrot, Tomato and Red Bigeye Fish Soup
Traditionally used to strengthen the spleen and support a poor appetite
Why people make this soup
Red bigeye — known in Cantonese as “big-eye chicken” — makes a wonderfully fresh, sweet broth. Bro Niu pairs it with carrot and tomato for a bright, comforting pot that the whole family enjoys. It is the kind of soup traditionally offered to children with a weak spleen and a lacklustre appetite, and old hands also like it for tired eyes.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Children or adults with a weak spleen and poor appetite.
- Considered tasty and nourishing enough for the whole family.
- A very mild everyday soup; no special caution, but choose fresh, clean fish.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Red bigeye fish (mu mian yu): prized for a sweet, nourishing broth that is gentle on the stomach.
- Carrot (hong luo bo): rich in carotene; traditionally paired with fish for an appetising, wholesome soup.
- Tomato (fan qie): adds brightness and a pleasant tang that lifts the flavour.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): warms the middle and balances the fish.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrot | 1 | peeled, cut into chunks |
| Tomatoes | 2–3 | cut into chunks |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Red bigeye fish | 2 | skinned, cleaned, pan-fried |
Method
- Peel the carrot and cut into chunks; rinse and cut the tomatoes.
- Skin and clean the fish, then pan-fry in a little oil until fragrant.
- Put everything into a pot with 6 bowls of water and simmer about 1 hour down to 4 bowls.
- Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is tasty and nutritious — fine for the whole family — and is also well liked by those whose eyesight is feeling tired.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Lily): Can someone with bronchitis drink carrot, tomato and red bigeye fish soup? Bro Niu: Yes, you can drink it.
- Q (May): How long do I cook a red bean, sweetcorn and crucian carp soup? Aren’t carp “toxic,” as the old folks say? Bro Niu: That soup needs about 1.5 hours. Carp is a scaled fish, so of course it isn’t toxic — it is traditionally said to support the kidneys and spleen, ease swelling and promote milk flow, which suits spleen-weak fluid retention well.
- Q (meimei): Should I boil the water first before adding ingredients? And how do I get a milky-white fish soup? Bro Niu: For herb or meat soups, start from cold water so the goodness draws out and the broth tastes fresher; but greens like watercress or bitter melon go into boiling water to avoid bitterness. For milky fish soup, fry the fish until fragrant, tip it straight into boiling water and keep at a hard boil for 15 minutes.
Published July 20, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
