Golden Lily Flower, Goji Berry, Spinach and Pork Liver Soup

Why people make this soup

Many people avoid pork liver out of concern about cholesterol or the worry that the liver — as a detox organ — might accumulate harmful substances. These are legitimate considerations, but with proper preparation pork liver can be a genuinely useful food. It is rich in vitamin A, B2, C, and various trace minerals, as well as protein and lecithin — nutrients that support children’s development and eye health. The key is preparation: soaking pork liver in lightly salted water for 30 minutes, rinsing well, then marinating briefly in rice vinegar helps draw out residual toxins before cooking.

Used thoughtfully, pork liver in food therapy is traditionally associated with supporting the liver system (gan), correcting blood deficiency, improving night vision, and easing swollen or red eyes. This quick soup, simmered with golden lily flowers (known in Chinese food therapy as a “worry-dissolving” herb), goji berries, and spinach, is a balanced, lightly flavoured dish that works well for most of the family.

Pork liver preparation (important)

1. Rinse the liver, then soak in cold lightly salted water for 30 minutes. Drain.
2. Rinse again under cold running water until the water runs clear and no blood remains. Drain and pat dry.
3. Slice into thin pieces. Optionally, marinate in a small splash of rice vinegar for 5 minutes, then rinse again — this further removes residual toxins.

Method

1. Prepare the pork liver as described above.
2. Soak and rinse the golden lily flowers; tie each one loosely into a small knot.
3. Rinse the goji berries. Remove the roots from the spinach and wash well.
4. Bring 1.2 L of water to a rolling boil in a pot.
5. Add the pork liver, lily flowers, and goji berries. Bring back to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes.
6. Add the spinach in the final 2 minutes of cooking, stir briefly, and serve immediately. Eat the soup and all the ingredients together.

Nourilo’s Tips

This is a light, delicately flavoured soup that suits all ages. It is especially good for people with anaemia and for women in early pregnancy who need to top up their folate. The golden lily flower knot is a traditional technique — it keeps the flowers intact and adds a little visual appeal. For those with high blood pressure or cholesterol, the broth itself is fine to enjoy; simply eat less of the liver portion. When shopping for pork liver, fresh is always better; the preparation steps above genuinely reduce residual drug and toxin content.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

• Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
  Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
• take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
• have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

• Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium
• Liver: Liver is very high in vitamin A, which can harm an unborn baby. Avoid this dish during pregnancy. Source: NHS — Foods to avoid in pregnancy

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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