Soups
Chayote, Cashew, Carrot & Fresh Fish Soup
Traditionally associated with supporting recovery after illness or surgery for those with a weak spleen and stomach
Why people make this soup
Fresh small sea fish, simmered into soup, are easy to digest and have long been favoured for recovery after illness. Chayote is one of the more well-rounded gourds — available year-round, not too cooling, and good for any season. Bro Niu pairs them with cashews and carrot in this gentle soup, especially suited to people whose spleen and stomach are weak and who feel tired and depleted after an illness or operation.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People recovering after illness or surgery with a weak spleen and stomach, feeling tired and low on energy; the whole family, young and old, can enjoy it.
- Always follow your surgeon’s post-operative dietary advice for timing and any restrictions.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh small sea fish (xian yu): Easy to digest after cooking into soup; traditionally favoured to help the body rebuild after illness, and said to support wound healing.
- Chayote (he zhang gua): A well-rounded, gentle gourd, not overly cooling.
- Cashews (yao guo): Add richness and nourishment.
- Carrot (gan sun) & red dates (hong zao): Sweeten the soup naturally and round out the bowl.
Ingredients (about 4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chayote | 1 | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Cashew nuts | 1 tael (~38 g) | |
| Carrot | 1 | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Red dates | 5 | Pitted |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Fresh fish | ~1 tael | Cleaned, lightly pan-fried in a little oil |
Method
- Peel the chayote and cut into chunks; peel the carrot and cut into chunks; pit the red dates.
- Clean the fish and lightly pan-fry in a little oil until fragrant.
- Combine all ingredients with 8 bowls of water.
- Simmer for about 1.5 hours until reduced to about 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Stonefish is a variety traditionally said to support healing of deep surgical wounds. It is available at Chinese or Asian fish suppliers — if you cannot find it, any other fresh sea fish works just as well. The whole family, young and old, can drink this soup.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Shum): My husband is having minimally invasive surgery for benign prostate enlargement. What food therapy can I prepare before and after? Bro Niu: Before surgery, use qi- and blood-nourishing soups — bei qi and dang shen 3 mace each, with some Chinese yam, goji and red dates, in chicken or lean pork soup; or lotus root, red bean and red date soup with pork ribs. Avoid overly qi-moving ingredients. Surgery uses anaesthetic, so once he can drink, give radish and dried tangerine peel water in small sips to help clear it. After 3 days, sea bass or stonefish soup helps the wound heal — add mild ingredients like Chinese yam and goji.
- Q (Ming): After prostate cancer surgery, is stonefish soup suitable, and how many days after surgery can it start? Bro Niu: From the third day after prostate surgery you may drink stonefish soup; to speed recovery, add 5 mace of bei qi.
- Q (Irene Ho): My son had flu and fever, the fever broke Monday night, but last night he sweated heavily in his sleep and is very tired. What soup helps clear the tail of a cold and stop night sweats? Bro Niu: Use wu wei zi 3 mace, fu xiao mai 5 mace, gan cao 2 mace, nan zao 5, in 5 bowls of water cooked to 2 bowls, for two doses, to help stop night sweats. Once the sweating stops, use an old cucumber, American ginseng 3 mace, red bean and hyacinth bean 1 tael, two honey dates with lean pork, simmered 2 hours — the whole family can drink it, to help clear lung heat and support qi and fluids.
Published October 8, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
