Four-Spirit Beef Loach Fish Soup

Why people make this soup

Nourilo shares this one with a personal note: he is always careful about his health, yet recently went through a major operation. His point to readers is simple and heartfelt — no matter how careful you are, pay close attention to changes in your body, and see a doctor at the first sign something is off. As he recovers, he turns to this gentle “four-spirit” (si shen) soup. The four classic ingredients — yam, lotus seed, poria and euryale — are traditionally used to strengthen the spleen and kidney and support the body’s overall constitution, which is exactly what someone rebuilding their strength wants.