Enoki Mushroom & Silver Carp Head Soup

Why people make this soup

There is an old Chinese saying: “From silver carp, eat the head; from green carp, eat the tail.” The silver carp head — particularly the rich, gelatinous “fish cloud” (yu yun) — has long been prized in Chinese food-therapy tradition for nourishing the brain and spinal marrow, warming the stomach, and easing dizziness. Paired with enoki mushrooms (sometimes called the “wisdom mushroom” in Chinese), which are notably high in zinc, this soup is a practical and delicious option for households where children are in a growth phase, or where adults are mentally overworked. The soup comes together quickly — under an hour — which makes it realistic for busy weeknights.

Method

1. Have the fishmonger remove the gills from the fish head and cut it into sections. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
2. Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Add a little oil and pan-fry the fish head sections until lightly golden on both sides. This step removes the fishy smell and adds depth of flavour to the soup.
3. Transfer the pan-fried fish head and the ginger slices into a soup pot. Add 1.5 L of water and bring to a boil.
4. Simmer over medium heat for about 30 minutes, until the soup turns a milky white.
5. Trim the roots from the enoki mushrooms and rinse. Add the enoki and spring onion sections to the pot.
6. Season with salt and simmer for a further 2–3 minutes, until the enoki is just cooked through.
7. Serve immediately — eat the fish, mushrooms, and drink the broth.

Nourilo’s Tips

Enoki mushrooms are high in zinc and traditionally considered supportive of children’s memory, intelligence development, and even height growth. Because they are high in potassium and low in sodium, they are also well-suited for people managing high blood pressure or high cholesterol — and for older adults. If a child dislikes the taste of fish, Nourilo suggests replacing the fish head with a handful of peanuts and lean pork, which still makes a nourishing soup. You can also add tofu and tomato to this soup for extra nutrition — the flavours work very well together.