Soups
Cordyceps Spore, Yam, Goji, Lily and Conch Soup
Traditionally used to nourish the five organs, support the lungs and ease cough
Why people make this soup
The solar term “Start of Winter” (li dong) has arrived. Tradition says it’s time for a tonic to build resilience against cold and illness — but when the weather is still mild, an overly warming soup isn’t ideal. Frozen conch is available at many supermarkets and Asian grocers; paired with cordyceps spore heads, fresh yam, goji, and lily bulb, it makes a soup that is nourishing and rich yet gentle. Conch makes an exceptionally savory broth and is rich in protein and trace minerals, and cordyceps spore heads — where the plant concentrates its nourishment — are traditionally associated with supporting the lungs and kidneys and easing cough.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits young and old; nourishing but not cold nor drying, traditionally helpful for sensitive airways and nasal sensitivity
- Do not take it while you have a cold with fever
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cordyceps spore heads (chong cao bao zi tou): traditionally support the lungs and kidneys and help ease cough
- Fresh yam, goji, and lily bulb: mild, balanced tonics that nourish without being drying
- Conch meat (xiang luo tou): savory and nourishing, rich in protein and trace minerals
- Fresh ginger (sheng jiang): balances the cool nature of the conch
Ingredients (4 to 5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordyceps spore heads | 5 qian | soaked, rinsed |
| Fresh yam | ~150 g | peeled, cut into segments |
| Goji berries | 3 qian | soaked, rinsed |
| Lily bulb | ~40 g | soaked, rinsed |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Frozen conch heads | 6 | thawed, blanched |
Method
- Soak and rinse the cordyceps spore heads, goji, and lily bulb separately.
- Peel the fresh yam and cut into segments.
- Thaw the conch and blanch.
- Simmer everything in 8 to 9 bowls of water for about 1.5 hours, reducing to 4 to 5 bowls. Eat the ingredients along with the soup.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is neither cold nor drying, fine for all ages, and traditionally helpful for sensitive airways and nasal sensitivity — but skip it while you have a cold with fever. Cordyceps spore heads are available at Chinese or Asian grocers and dried-seafood specialists, or online.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (May): My 10-year-old coughed for weeks; he’s about 90% better with just a bit of phlegm left, but all the medicine has worn him down and now he feels the cold easily. Any soup to strengthen him? Bro Niu: First, 1 tael black soybean, 2 qian licorice, and 1 tangerine peel in 5 bowls of water down to 2, 2 batches, to clear lingering medicine residue. Then 3 qian astragalus, 1 tael yam, 1 tael each lotus seed and fox nut, and 5 dates in a lean-pork soup; it supports the constitution and the spleen’s absorption.
- Q (Jessica): After 2 weeks of travel my stomach is off — too much eating out. No appetite, not hungry, feel like vomiting but can’t. What can I take? Bro Niu: Try 3 qian hawthorn, 5 qian stir-fried malt (chao mai ya), 2 qian chicken gizzard lining (ji nei jin), 2 slices ginger, and 5 dates in a lean-pork soup, simmered 2 hours down to 2 bowls over a day; it helps clear food stagnation and aid digestion.
Published November 7, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
