Soups
Chinese Yam, Goji, Dendrobium and Mussel Soup
Traditionally enjoyed to nourish the liver and brighten tired eyes
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu had some pearl-mussel meat left over in the fridge, so he turned it into an eye-brightening soup with Chinese yam, goji, dendrobium and snow fungus. Pearl-mussel meat is traditionally regarded as nourishing the liver’s yin and brightening the eyes — and because it nourishes without being heating, it pairs beautifully with goji and dendrobium. This soup is especially comforting for people who overwork and overuse their eyes, since tradition links that fatigue to “liver-yin” and “stomach-yin” depletion, and this gentle soup won’t overwhelm a tired system.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Anyone who works long hours or spends a lot of time on screens and wants a nourishing, eye-friendly soup; suitable for the whole family.
- A gentle, balanced soup; no special caution noted in the source. As always, see a doctor for any serious eye symptom.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Pearl-mussel meat (zhen zhu rou): traditionally used to nourish liver-yin and brighten the eyes, nourishing without being heating.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): classically associated with nourishing the liver and brightening the eyes.
- Dendrobium (shi hu): traditionally used to nourish stomach-yin and support the eyes.
- Chinese yam (huai shan): traditionally strengthens the spleen and helps the body absorb nourishment.
- Snow fungus, figs, red dates: add gentle nourishment and natural sweetness.
Ingredients (5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese yam | ~37 g (1 liang) | Rinse |
| Goji berries | ~15 g (4 qian) | Rinse |
| Dendrobium | ~11 g (3 qian) | Use Sichuan dendrobium to save cost |
| Pearl-mussel meat | 3 pieces | Fresh mussel meat works as a substitute |
| Snow fungus | ~7.5 g (2 qian) | Soak, rinse, remove stems |
| Figs | 3 | |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | |
| Red dates | 6 | |
| Pork shin | 1 piece | Blanch first |
Method
- Blanch the pork shin to remove scum.
- Soak and rinse the snow fungus and other ingredients; trim the snow fungus stems.
- Put everything in a pot with 10 bowls of water and simmer about 3 hours down to 5 bowls. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
Dendrobium and pearl-mussel meat can be pricey. To keep costs down, use Sichuan dendrobium (chuan shi hu) and fresh mussel meat instead.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Rita Yuen): This soup sounds delicious, but dendrobium is hard to get — can I leave it out? Bro Niu: Yes, just add a little more goji and carrot instead; goji and carrot are traditionally very good for the optic nerve.
-
Q (lsp): Can I use sea whelk (xiang luo) instead? Bro Niu: Yes, you can use dried sea whelk. Small abalone also works — abalone is traditionally nicknamed the “eye-brightening fish”.
-
Q (Flyflyfly): Can I eat the dendrobium after the soup is cooked? Bro Niu: If you bought the pricier dendrobium, do eat it so it isn’t wasted. You can also buy dendrobium powder and stir it into the hot soup, which is ideal.
Published August 5, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
