Fresh Dendrobium, Goji Berry, Fresh Abalone, and Chicken Soup

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.

Method

1. Rinse fresh dendrobium stems and cut into sections.
2. Soak and rinse goji berries; pit the red dates.
3. Remove skin from the chicken, cut into large pieces. Blanch chicken pieces and abalone together briefly in boiling water, then drain and rinse.
4. Place all ingredients in a pot with 2.7 L of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until the soup reduces to about 1.2–1.5 L.
6. Serve together with the soup ingredients.

Nourilo’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.