Soups
Dioscorea, Goji, Dried Scallop and Partridge Soup
Traditionally used to strengthen the spleen, nourish the lungs, and support children's immunity
Why people make this soup
When flu season arrives and the temperature drops, parents start thinking about how to help their children build resilience. In Chinese food therapy, the guiding principle is to use gentle, nature-based ingredients that nourish without over-stimulating — particularly for children, whose systems are still developing and can be thrown off balance by overly rich tonics. This soup uses partridge as the base — a bird prized in traditional practice for addressing chronic cough and spleen weakness in children — combined with the mildly strengthening Chinese yam, goji, dried scallop, and carrot. The result is a flavourful, nourishing broth that the whole family can enjoy, not just the children.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family, including toddlers (half a bowl for infants around 1 year old)
- Especially helpful for children who are easily fatigued, have poor appetite, cough frequently, or produce a lot of phlegm
- Suitable during early pregnancy
- Partridge can be replaced with quail, silkie chicken, or pork if unavailable
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chinese yam (huai shan): Gently strengthens the spleen and stomach; supports digestion and nutrient absorption without being stimulating or warm
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Traditionally used to nourish the liver and kidneys, support vision, and enhance the body’s natural defences
- Dried scallop (yao zhu): Associated with nourishing yin, supporting the spleen, and assisting the body’s natural detoxification pathways
- Carrot (hong luo bo): Supports the spleen and is associated with clearing childhood digestive accumulation (gan ji)
- Partridge (zhe gu): Highly regarded for addressing chronic cough, excessive phlegm, and spleen weakness in children; low in fat and rich in protein
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese yam (huai shan) | 37 g (1 liang) | Soak and rinse |
| Goji berries | 11 g (3 qian) | Rinse |
| Carrot | 1 medium | Peel and cut into chunks |
| Dried scallop | 3 pieces | Soak until softened |
| Red dates | 4 pieces | Pit before cooking |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Partridge | 1 whole | Cleaned and blanched; substitute quail or silkie chicken |
| Water | 8 bowls (~2 L) | Reduces to 4–5 bowls |
Method
- Soak and rinse the Chinese yam, goji berries, and dried scallops separately.
- Peel and cut the carrot into chunks; pit the red dates.
- Clean the partridge and blanch in boiling water for 2–3 minutes; drain.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Bring to the boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
- Cook for 1.5 hours.
- Serve the broth and eat the soup ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is low in fat and high in protein, making it a nourishing option for the whole family without being heavy or greasy. It is particularly suited to children or adults who are constitutionally weak yet cannot tolerate rich tonics. If partridge is hard to find, quail or silkie chicken both work well as substitutes. For a family of four, one bird plus a small amount of lean pork gives a more generous pot.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Karie Hung): Can I substitute squab (pigeon) for partridge? Partridge isn’t available at the supermarket at the moment. Bro Niu: Yes, squab works as a substitute. No problem.
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Q (Yannis): Can pork bones be used instead of partridge? My husband also seems to have had a lingering cold — can he drink this soup too? Bro Niu: You can replace the partridge with pork ribs or lean pork. If your husband has a cold without fever, he can also drink this soup.
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Q (anonymous): Hello Bro Niu, 1-year-old baby — can they drink this soup? Bro Niu: A 1-year-old baby can have about half a bowl.
Published November 29, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
