Dioscorea, Fox Nut and Loach Fish Soup

Why people make this soup

Loach fish may look unassuming — small, slippery, and a bit awkward to prepare — but Nourilo picked some up at the market and decided they were worth the effort. In Japan, loach is called “water ginseng,” reflecting a shared East Asian tradition of valuing this little freshwater fish for its nourishing qualities. Combined with Chinese yam (huai shan) and fox nut (qian shi), both classic ingredients for supporting the digestive system, this soup is a gentle but effective recipe for children who seem perpetually tired, eat too little, or do not seem to be thriving quite as well as their peers. It also benefits the whole family, including adults dealing with general fatigue or digestive weakness.