Soups
Blood-Nourishing Beauty Chicken Wine Soup
Traditionally used to nourish blood and support those prone to low blood pressure
Why people make this soup
High blood pressure gets all the attention, but plenty of people run low — often young women, those depleted after childbirth, people with weak digestion, and those who do a lot of mental work. Bro Niu was teaching a postnatal-care class in Fanling when a student brought him a homemade bottle of glutinous rice wine, the kind her hometown loves best. He used it to cook this “blood-nourishing beauty chicken wine soup” — fragrant beyond words. Besides being a classic for new mothers, it is traditionally regarded as especially good for people prone to low blood pressure.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People prone to low blood pressure, and those who feel depleted and want to nourish the blood
- New mothers, as a postpartum tonic; and women looking to recover after their period
- Nursing mothers should drink it only after feeding the baby, since it contains alcohol
- If you prefer no alcohol, or have a condition affected by it, please see a doctor first
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Lily buds / golden needles (jin zhen): traditionally associated with nourishing the blood.
- Black wood ear (hei mu er): traditionally used to support blood and circulation.
- Red dates (hong zao): warming and sweet, classically used to nourish blood and qi.
- Young chicken (nen ji): a warming, nourishing protein traditionally chosen to build strength.
- Glutinous rice wine (nuo mi jiu): warming; lends fragrance and is traditionally used to invigorate circulation.
- Fresh ginger (sheng jiang): warming, traditionally recommended in cooking for those who run low in blood pressure.
Ingredients (1 pot, 2–3 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried lily buds (golden needles) | ~11 g (3 qian) | Soak until soft, then tie in knots |
| Black wood ear | 2 pieces | Soak until soft, trim stems, cut into pieces |
| Fresh ginger | 15 g | Sliced |
| Red dates | 8 | Pitted |
| Young chicken | 1 whole | Cut into pieces |
| Glutinous rice wine | 100 ml | Up to 150 ml if you like |
| Salt, light soy, white pepper, cornstarch | for marinade |
Method
- Soak the lily buds until soft and tie each into a knot.
- Soak the wood ear until soft, trim the stems, and cut into pieces.
- Slice the ginger; pit the red dates.
- Cut the chicken into pieces, rinse, and marinate for 30 minutes with salt, light soy sauce, white pepper, and cornstarch.
- Heat oil and fry the ginger until fragrant, then add the chicken and pan-sear until golden.
- Add the lily buds, wood ear, and red dates and stir-fry briefly.
- Add seasoning, the rice wine, and 2 bowls of water; cook about 12 minutes until the chicken is done.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is delicious and fragrant, and is traditionally enjoyed to bring a rosy, healthy glow; women may find it a good tonic after their period. But if you are a nursing mother, drink it only after feeding the baby, so the alcohol does not affect the child.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Cindy): Can I use yellow rice wine (huang jiu) instead? Bro Niu: You can use yellow wine, but it is higher in alcohol, so keep the amount modest. It is best not to nurse after drinking the chicken wine soup, to protect the baby’s health.
- Q (anonymous reader): How many times a week can a new mother have the chicken wine soup? Is daily okay? Bro Niu: From 12 days postpartum you may have the chicken wine soup; always drink it only after finishing breastfeeding, so it does not affect the baby. Three times a week is plenty.
- Q (anonymous reader): How much glutinous rice wine should I add? Bro Niu: You can add 100 to 150 ml of glutinous rice wine.
Published December 14, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
