Soups
Fresh Dendrobium, Goji Berry, Fresh Abalone, and Chicken Soup
traditionally used to nourish the liver and kidneys, support eye health, and strengthen general vitality
Why people make this soup
Fresh baby abalone, once a luxury ingredient, is now much more accessible and available at fishmongers and Asian grocery stores year-round. When combined with fresh dendrobium orchid stems and goji berries, you get a soup that Cantonese families traditionally serve during recovery periods, to people with tired eyes or blurry vision, and to anyone who simply wants a beautifully nourishing meal to start the new year.
Dendrobium orchid (shi hu) is one of the premier yin-nourishing herbs in classical Chinese medicine. Unlike many tonic herbs, it has a delicate grassy flavour that works beautifully in a light soup rather than dominating it. The combination with goji and abalone creates a broth that is deeply savoury, naturally sweet, and genuinely restorative.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for all ages; especially good for people with eye fatigue, blurred vision, or those supporting liver health.
- Well suited for those managing diabetes, recovering from surgery, or rebuilding strength after illness.
- After surgery: wait at least 2 months before consuming scaleless fish or other traditionally “stimulating” ingredients, to allow deep tissue healing. This soup itself is gentle and supportive post-surgery.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh dendrobium (xian shi hu): A premium yin-nourishing herb in traditional Chinese medicine; traditionally associated with nourishing the stomach, moistening dryness, clearing liver heat, and supporting eye health. Fresh stems have a more vivid flavour than dried.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Rich in antioxidants; traditionally associated with nourishing the liver and kidneys, and brightening the eyes — one of the most common food-therapy ingredients for vision support.
- Fresh abalone: In Chinese cooking, abalone is associated with nourishing the liver and kidney yin, and calming the nervous system. It is also a delicious, protein-rich ingredient.
- Free-range chicken: Provides flavour and nourishment; free-range birds (zou di ji) are preferred in traditional Cantonese cooking for their firmer texture and richer flavour.
- Red dates (hong zao): Nourish qi and blood; add natural sweetness and moderate the other ingredients.
- Ginger: Warms the stomach and balances the slightly cooling nature of some other ingredients.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh dendrobium stems (xian shi hu) | ~38 g (1 liang) fresh | Rinse and cut into sections; or use 11 g dried |
| Goji berries (gou qi zi) | ~11 g (3 qian) | Soak and rinse |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | — |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 5 pieces | Pitted |
| Fresh baby abalone | 6–7 pieces | Have your fishmonger clean and gut them; rinse well |
| Free-range chicken | half a bird | Skin removed; cut into large pieces |
| Water | 9 bowls (~2.25 L) | — |
Method
- Rinse fresh dendrobium stems and cut into sections.
- Soak and rinse goji berries; pit the red dates.
- Remove skin from the chicken, cut into large pieces. Blanch chicken pieces and abalone together briefly in boiling water, then drain and rinse.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 9 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until the soup reduces to about 4–5 bowls.
- Serve together with the soup ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is naturally sweet and delicious — suitable for all ages and a wonderful dish to share with family. It is also particularly appropriate for people managing diabetes, those who have had surgery and are in the later stages of recovery, and anyone who feels run down after illness. Eat the abalone and chicken along with the broth for maximum nourishment.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Arena): What soup is good after cervical spine surgery? Bro Niu: You can simmer ba ji (morinda root), du zhong (eucommia bark), each 3 qian, together with black soybeans (1 liang) and south red dates (6 pieces) in a lean pork soup — this supports your recovery. If you have appetite, you can also stew flower glue (fa jiao / fish maw) with Chinese yam, goji berries, red dates, and chicken breast — very nourishing.
Published January 1, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
