Soups
Fresh Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb & Silkie Chicken Soup
traditionally associated with calming the mind, supporting restful sleep, and nourishing the heart and kidneys
In short: Fresh Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb & Silkie Chicken Soup is a soup that traditionally associated with calming the mind, supporting restful sleep, and nourishing the heart and kidneys. It is most often made for children's wellness, heart & circulation, kidney & urinary wellness. Total time about 110 min. Key ingredients: lotus seeds, lily bulb, red dates, ginger.
Why people make this soup
Extended periods at home — whether due to lockdowns, illness, or economic uncertainty — take a quiet toll on the mind. Even without immediate crisis, the constant background hum of worry about work, finances, and an unknown future can disrupt sleep, make the mind race, and leave the body feeling perpetually fatigued. When external circumstances cannot be changed, Cantonese food therapy suggests a practical response: nourish your body now so you have the vitality to face what comes next. Fresh lotus seeds are only available for a brief season each summer, and Nourilo always recommends making the most of them when they appear. Combined with lily bulb and silkie chicken, this soup supports the heart, calms the spirit, and eases the restless, tired-but-wired feeling that marks emotional overload.
Method
- Remove the bitter core from each fresh lotus seed (push it out with a toothpick or skewer). Rinse the seeds.
- Rinse the lily bulb and scallops. Soak scallops in a little water for 20–30 minutes until soft.
- Pit the red dates.
- Joint the silkie chicken into large pieces. Blanch in a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes; drain and rinse.
- Place all ingredients into a pot with 2.4–2.7 L of water.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to a medium simmer, and cook for 90 minutes until reduced to about 1.2–1.5 L.
- Serve — drink the soup and eat the lotus seeds, lily bulb, and chicken together.
Nourilo’s Tips
Fresh lotus seeds contain more vitamins and minerals than the dried version, and they cook faster and have a tender, slightly milky texture. The lotus seed core, which you remove before cooking, is mildly bitter and can be brewed on its own as a simple cooling tea — it is traditionally associated with clearing heart fire and helping to lower blood pressure. If fresh lotus seeds are unavailable, substitute 40 g of dried lotus seeds (with skin if possible — they offer slightly better nourishing quality). For those with anaemia or constitutionally weak bodies who find tonics hard to digest, this soup is ideal — it nourishes gently and thoroughly without being too heavy.
What studies say about the key ingredients
Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.
- Lotus seeds
Lotus seed meals had a low glycemic index (GI 21–51 across the lotus seed and adzuki bean meals), while several other starchy foods did not differ significantly from rice. Lotus seed's in vitro hydrolysis index was also lower than that of other test foods.Limitation: Only ten healthy participants and acute single-meal tests, so findings may not apply to people with diabetes or to long-term intake.PubMed 30875961 - Red dates
Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies - Ginger
Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies
From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.
Safety first — read before you cook
This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
- take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
- have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.
Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes
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