Soups
Codonopsis, Astragalus and Partridge Soup
traditionally taken to support the body's defenses during flu season
Why people make this soup
Flu spreads once autumn arrives, and it tends to hit harder than a common cold — chills, fatigue, cold sweats, aching joints, and often a high fever. Bro Niu’s everyday advice is to eat well: vitamin A and C from fresh fruit and veg, plus zinc-rich foods like oyster, shrimp, enoki, malt and black sesame, and a little onion, garlic, spring onion and ginger in your cooking. When you want a proper restorative, this codonopsis, astragalus and partridge soup is a fine tonic, traditionally used to strengthen the body’s defenses.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits all ages as a restorative autumn-winter tonic; partridge can be swapped for other poultry or lean pork.
- Do NOT take it while you have a cold with fever — wait until the fever has fully passed. For young children, swap codonopsis for tai zi shen (pseudostellaria), which is gentler.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Codonopsis (dang shen): A common household tonic herb, traditionally used to replenish qi and support the body’s defenses.
- Astragalus (bei qi): Traditionally used to strengthen protective qi and support resistance.
- Red dates (hong zao): Nourish blood and harmonize the soup.
- Partridge (zhe gu): A nourishing game bird; substitutable with other poultry or lean pork.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Codonopsis root | ~19 g (5 qian) | Soaked, rinsed, cut into sections |
| Astragalus root | ~19 g (5 qian) | Soaked, rinsed, cut into sections |
| Red dates | 6 | Pitted |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | — |
| Partridge | 1 | Cleaned, blanched |
Method
- Soak, rinse and section the codonopsis and astragalus; pit the red dates; clean and blanch the partridge.
- Put everything into a pot with 8–9 bowls of water and simmer for 2 hours, reducing to 4 bowls. Done.
Bro Niu’s tips
Fragrant, tasty and good for all ages. Many frozen-meat shops now sell partridge, but you can also use other poultry or lean pork. Remember: do not drink it while you have a cold with fever, or you may let the illness take hold.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (m): A Chinese-medicine doctor says my 9-year-old son has weak lungs — can he drink this? And my younger daughter, almost 3? Bro Niu: This soup supports lung qi. For young children, swap the codonopsis for tai zi shen (pseudostellaria), which is gentler.
- Q (吴太/Mrs Ng): My child has had a cold for two weeks, then sinusitis, with occasional fever, and has been on Western medicine for a week. Can they drink this kind of soup? Bro Niu: If the cold and inflammation haven’t cleared, don’t give tonic soups — they can let the illness linger. But a steamed beef or chicken essence is fine. You can also simmer a gentle clearing soup such as dried vegetable, carrot, apricot kernel and dried duck gizzard with lean pork. For a blocked nose, brew a magnolia-bud tea (6–8 buds).
- Q (reader): If a family member has high blood pressure, do I still use ~19 g astragalus? Bro Niu: With high blood pressure, use about 38 g (1 liang) of astragalus.
Published October 9, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
