Soups
Cordyceps Flower, Fresh Yam, Goji Berry, and Mallard Duck Soup
Traditionally associated with strengthening constitution and supporting natural immunity, especially for children
Why people make this soup
Rotavirus and norovirus — highly contagious viral gastroenteritis infections — are a persistent worry for families with young children, especially in winter. There are no specific antiviral treatments; once infected, all you can do is manage symptoms. The best protection is prevention: good hygiene, thorough handwashing before touching food, and building a robust, resilient constitution. This soup is Bro Niu’s recommendation for strengthening the body’s natural defences, for children and adults alike. Mallard duck (water duck) is nourishing but not drying or heating — an ideal base for a tonic soup that the whole family, including young children, can enjoy regularly.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family, including infants from about 15 months (half a bowl)
- Suitable for children who tend to fall ill frequently or have a constitution that needs gentle strengthening
- Mallard duck is mild and nourishing without being hot or overstimulating — a better choice than chicken for people who run warm
- If mallard duck is unavailable, lean pork is a simple, effective substitute; for smaller or farmed mallard, add some lean pork to give the soup more body
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua, Cordyceps militaris): A cultivated variety related to the prized Cordyceps fungus; traditionally associated with supporting lung and kidney function, strengthening the immune system, and providing gentle, sustained energy — without the heat or intensity of some tonic herbs.
- Chinese yam (huai shan, Dioscorea opposita): Neutral and sweet; one of the most broadly used food-therapy ingredients in Chinese cooking. Traditionally supports the spleen, stomach, lungs, and kidneys. Easy to digest and suitable for children.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi, Lycium barbarum): Sweet and neutral; traditionally used to nourish liver and kidney yin and support eye health.
- Red dates (hong zao): Sweet and warm; tonify qi and blood, and harmonise the other ingredients in the soup.
- Fresh ginger: Warms the middle and helps balance the slightly cooling nature of the duck.
- Mallard duck (shui ya): Nourishes yin and qi, tonifies deficiency without causing dryness — a classic Chinese medicinal food ingredient described as “tonifying without being heating.”
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua) | ~19 g (5 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Fresh Chinese yam (xian huai shan) | ~150 g (4 taels) | Peel and cut into pieces; or use 1 liang dried |
| Goji berries (gou qi zi) | ~11 g (3 qian) | Rinse |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 6 pieces | Pitted |
| Mallard duck (shui ya) | 1 whole | Cleaned and chopped into large pieces; blanch first |
| Water | 10 bowls (~2.5 L) | Reduce to 4–5 bowls |
Method
- Clean the mallard duck, chop into large pieces, and blanch in boiling water for a few minutes to remove impurities; drain and set aside.
- Soak and rinse the cordyceps flower. Peel and chop the yam. Rinse goji berries and pit the red dates.
- Combine all ingredients in a large pot with 10 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 2 hours until the liquid reduces to 4–5 bowls.
- Serve warm; eat the softened solids along with the broth.
Bro Niu’s tips
Mallard duck can be found at large frozen meat shops. Farmed water duck tends to be smaller, so add a little lean pork to give the soup more flavour. If goji berries are unavailable, lotus seeds or lily bulbs make good substitutes — both are nourishing and suitable for children. Infants from 15 months can have half a bowl of this soup. For families wanting a lighter version, lean pork alone works well as the protein base.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Celine): My baby is 15 months old — can she have this? Is there a substitute for the mallard duck? Bro Niu: A 15-month-old can have half a bowl. You can use lean pork instead of the mallard duck — it works perfectly well.
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Q (reader): If there are no goji berries, what can I substitute? Bro Niu: If goji berries are unavailable, use lotus seeds or lily bulbs — both are beneficial.
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Q (abby): My son is 2.5 years old and still drools a lot. Is there a soup or food therapy to reduce excessive saliva? Bro Niu: For excessive drooling, try a soup of yi zhi ren (5 qian), qian shi (5 qian), and red dates (5 pieces), simmered in 5 bowls of water down to 2. One to two times a week — this combination is traditionally used to support the control of saliva in young children.
Published November 21, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
