Coconut, Fresh Lily and Silkie Chicken Soup (Ye Zi Xian Bai He Zhu Si Ji Tang)

Why people make this soup

Fresh lily bulbs have an almost ethereal quality — delicately sweet, clean-flavored, and genuinely lovely in both sweet soups and savory broths. When combined with the natural sweetness and richness of fresh coconut and the deeply nourishing quality of silkie chicken (renowned in Cantonese cooking for its particularly rich, non-heating tonic properties), the result is a soup that feels genuinely restorative. In traditional food-therapy thinking, this combination supports the spleen and stomach’s ability to generate fluids — which underpins good skin, energy, and moisture throughout the body. It is particularly valued for those who feel dry, tired, and low-appetite — the classic signs of qi and yin deficiency.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• People who tend toward dryness: dry skin, rough texture, low energy, reduced appetite, and thirstiness.
• Anyone looking for a nourishing beauty soup that the whole family can enjoy.
• Also traditionally associated with gentle support for those with chronic fatigue and mild fluid retention from heart weakness.
• No significant cautions; silkie chicken is considered less heating than regular broiler chicken. When buying silkie chicken, look for smaller birds or certified organic/imported varieties to avoid hormone-raised birds.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Fresh coconut (ye zi): The coconut flesh and juice are naturally sweet and lightly fragrant. Traditionally associated with tonifying the spleen, generating fluids, and stopping thirst. The water inside is packed with electrolytes; the flesh adds creaminess and natural sweetness to the broth.
• Fresh lily bulb (xian bai he): Clears mild lung heat, nourishes yin, calms the spirit, and moistens the skin. Fresh lily is considered superior to the dried form in soups; when unavailable, 37 g of dried lily bulb can be substituted.
• Silkie chicken (zhu si ji / black-boned chicken): Considered one of the most valuable cooking birds in Cantonese tradition — deeply nourishing without being heating, it is particularly prized for women’s health, post-menstrual recovery, and general yin tonification.
• Red dates and ginger: Add warmth, natural sweetness, and help the body absorb the other ingredients comfortably.

Ingredients (4 bowls / serves 3–4)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh coconut	1 whole	Flesh cut into pieces; coconut water reserved and added to the pot
Fresh lily bulb	2 bulbs	Pulled apart into petals, washed
Fresh ginger	3 slices
Red dates	6 pieces
Silkie chicken	1 whole	Cleaned, chopped, blanched in boiling water

Method

1. Crack open the coconut and reserve all the coconut water. Cut the flesh into chunks.
2. Wash the fresh lily bulb, separating it carefully into individual petals.
3. Clean the silkie chicken; chop into pieces and blanch briefly in boiling water to remove impurities. Discard blanching water and rinse.
4. Place all ingredients (including the coconut water) in a large pot and add enough water to total 8 bowls (about 2 liters).
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until the soup reduces to approximately 4 bowls.
6. Drink the soup and enjoy the chicken, coconut flesh, and lily petals. Season lightly with salt if desired.

Bro Niu’s tips

This soup is naturally sweet and lightly fragrant — no added sweetener is needed. If fresh lily bulbs are unavailable, substitute 37 g of dried lily bulbs soaked first. Silkie chicken from local markets can vary in quality; aim for smaller birds or certified organic varieties. Canadian-imported organic silkie chicken has been tested and found to be good quality. The best variety is the “kang bao ji” (康保鸡) — a cross between silkie and local breeds — which has black feet and a particularly nourishing quality, available by pre-order from some specialty stalls.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Elaine): I have just finished my period. Can I drink this soup to replenish qi and blood? Is silkie chicken better than regular chicken for women’s nourishment? Bro Niu: After your period you can drink this soup. For blood replenishment specifically, you can also make a soup with red adzuki beans, red-skinned peanuts, goji berries, and red dates. Silkie chicken is more nourishing and less heating than regular chicken — it is a better choice for women’s health. Try to buy smaller birds or organic imported ones to avoid hormone-raised birds.

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Published May 4, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.