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.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Particularly suited to people with blood deficiency, night blindness, tired or red eyes, or mild anaemia
• Excellent for pregnant women in early pregnancy who need folate (spinach is one of the best dietary sources)
• Those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obesity: enjoy the broth freely, but limit pork liver consumption
• Children and older adults can both enjoy this soup

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Dried golden lily flowers / daylily buds (jin zhen, Hemerocallis): Known colloquially in Chinese as “worry-dissolving herb” (wang you cao); traditionally used to calm the spirit, nourish the blood, support the liver, and ease mild anxiety and heart palpitations. They also add a pleasant, delicate flavour to the broth.
• Goji berries (gou qi zi): Classically associated with nourishing the liver and kidneys, brightening the eyes, and gently tonifying the blood and yin. One of the most well-researched traditional herbs for eye health.
• Spinach (bo cai): Rich in iron, folate, lutein and zeaxanthin — nutrients that support eye health (particularly the retina) and blood formation. Essential for pregnant women seeking folate.
• Pork liver (zhu gan): Rich in vitamins A, B2, lecithin, and iron; traditionally associated with nourishing the liver, correcting blood deficiency, supporting night vision, and easing eye swelling.

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried golden lily flowers (jin zhen)	~15 g (1 small handful)	Soak in water 15–20 min, rinse; tie each flower into a knot (traditional practice to retain shape)
Goji berries	~10 g (1 tablespoon)	Soak and rinse briefly
Fresh spinach	~150 g	Remove roots, wash well
Pork liver	~225 g (6 liang)	See preparation note below before cooking
Water	4 bowls (~600 ml)	—

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 4 bowls 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.

Bro Niu’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.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Ada): I have rosacea and have been on antibiotics for several months; my menstrual cycle has become very irregular. Is there food therapy to help regulate it? Bro Niu: You can try yi mu cao (motherwort, 5 qian) with brown sugar and 4–5 slices of ginger, simmered into a drink — this traditionally helps regulate the menstrual cycle. To help clear the antibiotic residue from your body, try red adzuki beans, mung beans, and coix seeds (each 1 liang) with 5 red dates, simmered for 1 hour as a drink — one week of regular use can help.

• Q (Sandy): My 11-year-old daughter has been grinding her teeth at night and sweating a lot. What can I give her? Bro Niu: Try simmering wheat grain (xiao mai mi, 1 liang), poria with wood (fu shen, 5 qian), lily bulb (1 liang), red dates (5), floating wheat (fu xiao mai, 5 qian), and black beans (1 liang) in 8 bowls of water for 1 hour until reduced to 4 bowls. Divide between two days and take over 2 doses — traditionally helps reduce night sweating and teeth grinding.

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Published November 16, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.