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 Nourilo 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.