Day Lily and Cloud Ear Mushroom Braised Chicken

Why people make this dish

Day lily buds and cloud ear mushroom are two of the most versatile ingredients in Cantonese home cooking — modest in cost, easy to prepare, and deeply appreciated for their food-therapy qualities. This braised chicken brings them together in a way that is practical enough for a weeknight family meal while being genuinely nourishing for the blood and spirit. The defining element of the technique is using black glutinous rice wine in place of water — no extra liquid is added — which produces a deeply fragrant, slightly sweet braised sauce that permeates the tender chicken.

In Chinese food therapy, day lily buds are associated with lifting mood and nourishing the blood, while cloud ear mushroom is one of the most iron-rich plant foods available, with traditional associations with supporting blood circulation and reducing blood lipids. Red dates add gentle sweetness and further blood-nourishing benefit. This is a dish that Cantonese families traditionally serve to women after their period or in the postpartum period.