Soups
Maitake, Lion's Mane Mushroom and Cordyceps Flower Chicken Soup
Traditionally associated with supporting immunity and the body against the three highs
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu had a little maitake left over from a relative’s gift, and maitake makes a wonderfully savory pot. Combined with lion’s mane mushroom and cordyceps flower in a chicken soup, it is traditionally enjoyed to support the body’s defenses, aid digestion and help maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol. It’s a comforting, restorative soup for when you feel run-down and want to build yourself back up.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits young and old; traditionally valued by those with weak digestion, low energy, and (per the source) by pregnant women needing gentle nourishment
- Those minding the three highs: swap the free-range chicken for lean pork (as Bro Niu advises) for a lighter pot
- Not suitable while you have a cold with fever
- People with mushroom allergy should go easy
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Maitake (wu rong): prized mushroom traditionally associated with supporting immunity
- Lion’s mane (hou tou gu): traditionally valued for supporting the stomach and digestion
- Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua): traditionally associated with supporting vitality and the body’s reserves
- Carrot, red dates, ginger: round out the soup and add gentle sweetness and warmth
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maitake mushroom (wu rong) | 2 clusters | Soaked and rinsed |
| Lion’s mane mushroom (hou tou gu) | 2 | Soaked and rinsed |
| Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Carrot (hong luo bo) | 1 | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 5 | Pitted |
| Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) | 3 slices | |
| Free-range chicken (zou di ji) | half a bird | Chopped, blanched; or lean pork |
Method
- Soak and rinse the maitake, lion’s mane and cordyceps flower separately.
- Peel the carrot and cut into chunks; pit the red dates.
- Chop the chicken into large pieces and blanch.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water and simmer about 1.5 hours down to 4 bowls; serve the soup with the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is fragrant and gentle, suiting young and old. For those minding the three highs, use lean pork instead of free-range chicken to keep it lighter. Skip it while you have a cold with fever.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Christine): Can I use other mushrooms like agaricus or morel — same effect? Can pregnant women drink it? Bro Niu: Morel supports the stomach and digestion and can replace agaricus; pregnant women can use it, but those allergic to mushrooms should go easy.
-
Q (zmq): I have higher blood pressure and somewhat high blood lipids — can I have this soup? Bro Niu: For this soup, skip the free-range chicken and use lean pork instead — it’s friendlier for the three highs.
-
Q (May): I developed hemorrhoids after pregnancy with occasional bleeding — any soups that help? Bro Niu: You can steep a tablespoon of pagoda-tree flower (huai hua mi) in a tea bag as a tea; traditionally used to help with hemorrhoid bleeding. Day to day, a tablespoon of huai hua with ~38 g black beans and ~38 g dried mussel simmered in lean-pork soup is enjoyed to help guard against flare-ups.
Published August 21, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
