Soups

Quail Soup with Chinese Yam, Goji, and Red Dates

Traditionally used to build strength in children and support post-illness or post-partum recovery

In short: Quail Soup with Chinese Yam, Goji, and Red Dates is a soup that Traditionally used to build strength in children and support post-illness or post-partum recovery. It is most often made for children's wellness, energy & vitality, everyday balance. Total time about 135 min. Key ingredients: chinese yam, goji berries, red dates, ginger.

Prep
15 min
Cook
120 min
Total
135 min
Makes
1.2 L
Quail Soup with Chinese Yam, Goji, and Red Dates

Why people make this soup

Quail has long carried the affectionate nickname “ginseng of the poultry world” in Chinese culinary tradition — a nod to its reputation as a small but powerfully nourishing bird. Unlike heavier tonics, a quail soup tends to be light, mildly sweet, and easy on the digestive system, making it especially suitable for children, the elderly, and those who are rebuilding their strength after illness. Nourilo found good-quality imported frozen quail at the supermarket, which work well for soup even if fresh birds are not available. The herbal companions here — Chinese yam, goji, and red dates — are a classic trio that together support the spleen, liver, and kidneys in a mild, balanced way.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
    Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies
  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies
  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

Members only

Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips

One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,344 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.

  • Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,344 recipes
  • Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
  • One-time payment · card, Apple Pay or Google Pay · no subscription, no renewals

Checking your access…

Spot an error? Report a correction

Answers this recipe appears in

Comments

Loading comments…