Lotus Root, Chestnut and Free-Range Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

Winter lotus root is plump, sweet, and wonderfully flavoursome — Bro Niu says the third section of the root (counting from the growing end) is the best for slow-cooked soups like this one. Paired with chestnuts and a free-range chicken, this is one of those soups that feels deeply nourishing while tasting gentle and slightly sweet. Traditional food therapy recommends it for children who look pale or lack energy, for elderly people with weak lower backs or loose stools, and for anyone who simply wants a restorative family soup that the whole household can enjoy.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for the whole family, including young children and the elderly
• Particularly helpful for children with a pale complexion, low energy, or poor vitality
• Also beneficial for older adults experiencing lower back weakness, fatigue, or loose stools
• If you have a cold or flu, or are running a fever, hold off until you have recovered
• If someone has an active cold but the household still wants the soup, lean pork can be substituted for chicken without changing the overall character

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Lotus root (lian ou): In autumn and winter, lotus root is at its sweetest and most starchy; traditionally used to nourish blood, strengthen the spleen, and — at the node section — to help stop bleeding
• Chestnuts (li zi): In traditional food therapy, chestnuts are considered one of the best foods for strengthening the kidneys and lower back; they also support the spleen and are easy to digest when cooked in soup
• Red dates (hong zao): A classic blood-nourishing ingredient that also harmonises the stomach
• Free-range chicken: Considered richer in qi and more nourishing than farmed chicken; the whole-bird flavour creates a naturally sweet, deeply satisfying broth

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Lotus root	~300 g (half jin)	Peel and cut into thick slices; the thicker third section of the root makes the best soup
Chestnuts	~150 g (4 liang)	Blanch briefly to remove the inner skin
Red dates	6 pieces	If you have a damp constitution, remove the pits
Fresh ginger	2 slices
Free-range chicken	half a bird, ~600–700 g	Chop into pieces; blanch to remove impurities
Water	8 bowls	Simmer down to 4 bowls

Method

1. Chop the chicken into pieces; blanch in boiling water for 1–2 minutes, then rinse and drain.
2. Blanch the chestnuts briefly in boiling water to loosen and remove the inner papery skin.
3. Peel the lotus root and cut into thick slices — about 2 cm thick.
4. Place all ingredients into a clay pot or heavy-bottomed pot with 8 bowls of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer for 2 hours until about 4 bowls of soup remain.
6. Drink the soup and eat the soup ingredients — the lotus root, chestnuts, and chicken are all delicious after slow cooking.

Bro Niu’s tips

This soup nourishes qi and blood, and supports the kidneys and lower back — the whole family can enjoy it regularly. If a family member has a cold or flu, substitute lean pork for the chicken; the soup remains nourishing and safe to drink even during mild colds. Red dates: those with heavy dampness (indicated by a thick, white, greasy tongue coating) should remove the pits before cooking.

Bro Niu also notes that lotus root nodes — the thick, dark joining sections between each segment — should not be thrown away. Sun-dry them after blanching and keep them for use in nosebleed remedies, particularly for children.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Joyce Lam): If someone has a cold, can I use pork instead of chicken? Bro Niu: Yes, you can use lean pork instead of chicken. Even with a cold, you can still drink this soup.

• Q (hei): Do the red dates need to be pitted? Bro Niu: If you have a heavy damp constitution, it is best to pit the dates. If your tongue coating is not thick and white, leaving the pits in is fine.

• Q (reader, Donna): Selling chestnuts on the street, the stalls sometimes have ginkgo nuts as well. What do ginkgo nuts do? And what is the difference between fresh tu fu ling and the dried fu ling? Bro Niu: Ginkgo nuts help with cough, asthma, excessive vaginal discharge, and frequent urination — for menstrual cramps, warming herbs like ai ye (mugwort) and yi mu cao (motherwort) are more appropriate. Fresh tu fu ling and fu ling are two completely different herbs — tu fu ling primarily clears heat and toxins; fu ling drains dampness and supports the spleen. Dried fu ling usually comes in rolled slices; dried tu fu ling comes in thin, white, flat chips.

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Published January 7, 2013 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.