Ginkgo, Walnut, Almond and Francolin Soup

Why people make this soup

Children and adults who have weak constitutions often seem to catch every cold that goes around, and when the lungs are truly deficient, a cough from one illness can linger for weeks until the next one arrives. In Chinese food-medicine thinking, this pattern points to underlying weakness in the lungs, spleen and kidneys — the three organs most closely involved in breathing, fluid metabolism and constitutional energy. This soup addresses all three at once, using ingredients that have centuries of use behind them.

Francolin (鹧鸪, zhe gu) is a small game bird prized in Cantonese food medicine for its unusually comprehensive nourishing properties — traditionally described as tonifying all five vital organs and supporting qi in the centre. Paired with ginkgo (which calms wheeze), walnut (which tonifies the kidneys and the lungs from below), and almonds (which gently descend lung qi and moisten), the soup becomes a deeply restorative winter tonic for anyone who tends toward breathlessness, frequent colds or constitutional fatigue.

Method

1. Clean and blanch the francolin in boiling water for 2–3 minutes to remove impurities. Rinse under cold water.
2. Remove the green embryo (inner core) from each ginkgo nut.
3. Place all ingredients in a pot with 2.4 L of water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
4. Reduce heat and simmer gently for 2 hours, until the liquid reduces to approximately 1.2 L.
5. Season lightly with a pinch of salt if desired. Drink the soup and eat the bird meat and other ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

This is a warming, strengthening soup — not a summer dish. It suits autumn and winter best, or any time when chronic deficiency-pattern cough is an issue. If someone in the family has both asthma and tends to catch colds easily, Nourilo suggests making this once a week as a long-term habit. Cordyceps (chong cao / 虫草) can be added to the pot if available — Nourilo confirms this combination works well. The soup is mild enough for the whole family, including children, though portions for young children should be smaller.