Loach Fish, Potato, Tomato, and Carrot Soup

Why people make this soup

Many parents in Cantonese households are familiar with a child who sweats through their clothes at night, soaks the pillow, or comes in from the garden dripping even in mild weather. In traditional Chinese food therapy, this pattern is often linked to a constitution where the spleen and stomach need strengthening — when digestion is weak, the body struggles to consolidate its resources, and fluids are not held in place. Loach fish (ni qiu) is an ingredient Bro Niu genuinely loves for children: it is delicate in flavour, very easily digested, low in cholesterol, and high in protein. It is not the most glamorous fish to prepare, but once you learn the trick of blanching it in a mesh bag first, it becomes quite easy to work with, and the resulting soup is mild and naturally sweet from the vegetables.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suits children (and adults) with a weak spleen-stomach constitution, poor appetite, low energy, or a tendency to sweat excessively
• Also beneficial for adults with cardiovascular concerns, those recovering from hepatitis, or anyone who tires easily
• Avoid if the person has yin-deficiency with interior heat (a Chinese medicine constitution characterised by a tendency toward night sweats with a sensation of warmth and a red, dry tongue) — this soup would be too warming

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Loach fish (ni qiu): Traditionally considered warm in nature and associated with warming and nourishing the spleen-stomach system; also considered supportive for liver and kidney health, making it useful in nutritional deficiency or poor absorption
• Potato (shu zai): Neutral and gentle on the stomach; adds body to the broth and is easily digested by children
• Tomato: Provides natural acidity that brightens the soup and may help stimulate appetite
• Carrot (hong luo bo): Naturally sweet, nourishing, and rich in beta-carotene; adds colour and a gentle sweetness that children tend to enjoy
• Ginger: Warms the stomach, reduces any fishy odour, and helps the digestive system receive the other ingredients well

Ingredients (3–4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Loach fish	450 g	See method for how to prepare
Potato	1–2 medium	Peeled and cut into chunks
Tomato	2 medium	Washed and cut into chunks
Carrot	1 medium	Peeled and cut into chunks
Fresh ginger	3 slices

Method

1. Place the live loach fish into a fine-mesh bag or cheesecloth and tie it securely. Drop the bag into boiling water for a brief moment to stun and blanch the fish. Remove the bag and rinse the fish under running water to wash off the slime.
2. Remove the fish from the bag, clean out the intestines (or cut off the heads and bellies). Pan-fry briefly in a little oil until lightly golden — this improves the flavour and reduces fishiness.
3. Peel and cut the potato and carrot into chunks. Wash and cut the tomatoes into wedges.
4. Place all ingredients together in a pot. Add 7–8 bowls of cold water.
5. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then reduce to a medium-low simmer for 1 hour.
6. Serve the soup together with the vegetables and fish — the solid ingredients are nutritious and worth eating.

Bro Niu’s tips

• This soup is suitable for the whole family, not just children. Adults with cardiovascular concerns, hepatitis, or general fatigue will also find it beneficial.
• Do not give this soup to anyone with a heat constitution or active yin-deficiency interior heat.
• If a child sweats heavily and you want an additional remedy, Bro Niu suggests adding fu xiao mai (light wheat, 19 g / 5 qian) and qing ren hei dou (black soybeans, 37 g / 1 liang) to help consolidate fluids and reduce sweating.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Ying): My child is 2.5 years old and sweats excessively during sleep. Besides this fish soup, what else would be suitable? Bro Niu: You can add fu xiao mai (light wheat, 5 qian) and qing ren hei dou (black soybeans, 1 liang) to the soup — both traditionally help with reducing excess sweating.

• Q (Macy): My 3-year-old sweats heavily at night. Can I make a loach fish soup with fu xiao mai? Bro Niu: Yes, a loach and fu xiao mai soup is appropriate. Alternatively, you can make a simple remedy with qing ren hei dou (1 liang), fu xiao mai (5 qian), and hong zao or nan zao (4 pieces) simmered in 5 bowls of water down to 2 bowls. Take for 3 consecutive days to help with night sweating.

• Q (Phoebe): My baby is 16 months old — can she drink this soup? She sweats a lot around the neck and back but the skin is cool to touch. Is this spontaneous or night sweating? Bro Niu: This soup is suitable for your baby. Babies often have a naturally slightly warmer constitution and tend to perspire easily. Keep a thin soft cloth at the neck and back to absorb moisture and change it regularly.

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Published July 26, 2015 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.