Astragalus, Goji Berry and Red Date Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

When the weather turns cool, many people look for something nourishing that does not feel like medicine. Astragalus (huang qi / bei qi) has been a cornerstone of traditional Chinese tonic cooking for over two thousand years, and modern research has also taken an interest in its potential immune-modulating properties. Here it is paired with the three workhorses of Cantonese restorative cooking — goji berries, red dates, and ginger — and simmered with a young chicken for a soup that is richly flavoured, gently warming, and appropriate for nearly everyone in the family.

Nourilo notes that some people find they react poorly to stronger tonics like red ginseng, deer antler, or morinda — they overheat, develop mouth sores, or cannot sleep. Astragalus is not like that. It is warming without being heating, making it one of the most practical everyday tonics for a wide range of constitutions.