Soups
Huai Shan, Goji and Sun-Dried Scallop Chicken Breast Soup (Huai Qi Ri Yue Yu Tang)
Traditionally used to strengthen the spleen, nourish the skin, and support eye health
Why people make this soup
This is the kind of everyday family soup that covers a lot of ground quietly. Chinese yam and goji berries are among the most familiar and trusted ingredients in Cantonese food-therapy, and combining them with sun-dried scallop — a small, intensely flavoured dried seafood ingredient — gives the broth a natural depth and sweetness that makes it feel more substantial than the ingredients list might suggest. The traditional logic is that this combination nourishes the spleen (improving digestion and absorption), supports the liver and kidneys (which in turn benefits the skin and the eyes), and provides a range of vitamins and antioxidants that are associated with vision health. It is a light soup but a genuinely nourishing one.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family, young and old
- Particularly well suited to people who feel fatigued, have dull or sallow skin, experience eye dryness or fatigue, or have a weak appetite
- No significant cautions for this mild combination; those with seafood allergies should substitute the scallop
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chinese yam (huai shan): A classic spleen and stomach tonic. Gentle, sweet, and neutral in nature. Traditionally associated with supporting digestion, improving nutrient absorption, and nourishing kidney essence.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Rich in zeaxanthin, lutein, and polysaccharides. In traditional use they are considered one of the most important liver and kidney tonics, and are closely linked to eye health and brightening the complexion.
- Sun-dried scallop coin (ri yue yu): A small dried seafood ingredient found in Cantonese herbal shops. Traditionally considered nourishing to the liver and kidneys, and supportive of eye function. Note: Bro Niu advises that many commercially sold ri yue yu are of mixed quality — if in doubt, fresh abalone or high-quality dried pearl meat can substitute.
- Red dates (hong zao): Add natural sweetness and are traditionally considered tonifying to blood and qi.
- Ginger: Gently warms and helps balance the cooler nature of some of the other ingredients.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried Chinese yam | 37 g (1 liang) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Goji berries | about 11 g (3 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | — |
| Red dates | 5 pieces | Pit them |
| Sun-dried scallop coin (ri yue yu) | 37 g (1 liang) | Rinse |
| Chicken breast | 1 piece (about 250 g) | Cut into thick slices, blanch |
| Water | 8 bowls | About 2 litres |
Method
- Rinse and briefly soak the Chinese yam and goji berries.
- Pit the red dates.
- Rinse the sun-dried scallop coins. Cut the chicken breast into thick slices, then blanch with the scallop coins in boiling water for a few minutes. Drain and rinse off any foam.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water. Bring to a full boil over high heat, then reduce to a medium-low simmer.
- Cook for about 1.5 hours until the liquid reduces to roughly 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
A clear, sweet and satisfying soup for the whole family. If sun-dried scallop coins are hard to find or of uncertain quality — many on the market are pressed imitations made from squid or mixed fish — substitute with fresh abalone (including the shell for extra minerals) or high-quality dried pearl meat. Both are excellent for supporting eye health.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Wing, via reader): I would like to add this soup’s ingredients to a four-spirit soup (si shen tang with yam, lotus seed, euryale, and poria) and include goji berries and shu ren rou. Is that a good combination? I am also worried about the balance being too warm or too cooling. Bro Niu: You can certainly add goji to your four-spirit soup. As for ri yue yu, the market is full of imitation products — most of what is sold is pressed from squid or mixed fish trimmings, which is why the taste can be off. A fresh abalone (with shell) or some dried pearl meat would give you much better flavour and eye benefits. Add a carrot and some corn alongside if you like — those are also great for vision support, and your husband will likely prefer the taste.
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Q (May): Can I add conch to this soup? I also have coconut dates, figs, and southern dates — which is better to use instead of red dates? Bro Niu: Conch is fine to add. Coconut dates work as a red date substitute, and southern dates are also a good option. Figs are more suited to lung-moistening soups, so they are less essential here — but they do no harm if you enjoy them.
Published June 26, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
