Nourilo

Soups

Maitake Mushroom, Shiitake, Fresh Yam & Goji Pork Soup

traditionally associated with supporting immune function and general wellness

In short: Maitake Mushroom, Shiitake, Fresh Yam & Goji Pork Soup is a soup that traditionally associated with supporting immune function and general wellness. It is most often made for immune support, everyday balance. Total time about 2 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: shiitake mushrooms, chinese yam, goji berries, ginger.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
20 min
Cook
2 hr
Total
2 hr 20 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Immune SupportEveryday Balance
Maitake Mushroom, Shiitake, Fresh Yam & Goji Pork Soup

Why people make this soup

Nourilo first made this soup while working on a cookbook project — he had a pack of maitake mushrooms left over and decided to put them to good use with shiitake and fresh yam. The result was a broth he describes as wonderfully fragrant and clean-tasting. Maitake, known in Japanese as the “dancing mushroom,” is a high-protein, low-fat fungus that has attracted notable attention from nutritional researchers for its beta-glucan and polysaccharide content. In Chinese medicine it is considered sweet in flavour and neutral in nature, traditionally used to support the body’s energy, clear mild dampness, and ease urinary discomfort. Combined with the deep umami of dried shiitake, the gentle starchy body of fresh yam, and the mild sweetness of goji berries, this is a soup that nourishes without being heavy — suitable for the whole family.

Method

  1. Rinse the maitake mushroom and dried shiitake; soak in separate bowls of cold water until fully softened. Reserve both soaking liquids.
  2. Peel the fresh yam and slice into pieces.
  3. Rinse the goji berries; soak briefly.
  4. Slice the lean pork and blanch briefly in boiling water; drain and set aside.
  5. Place all ingredients into a pot; add 2.4 L of water (use the mushroom soaking water as part of this).
  6. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 hours.
  7. Serve the soup and eat the solid ingredients together.

Nourilo’s Tips

Do not discard the water used to soak the maitake and shiitake — it carries a good deal of flavour and nutrition, and Nourilo considers it a waste to throw it away. Simply add it to the pot as part of the cooking liquid. This soup is especially suited to people managing diabetes or those who have had a cancer diagnosis and are looking for gentle, nourishing everyday food; it is mild enough to take regularly.

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.

  • Shiitake mushrooms · Randomized controlled trial · 2015
    Daily shiitake intake was associated with increased ex vivo proliferation of γδ-T and NK-T cells, higher salivary sIgA and lower serum CRP, along with changes in cytokine patterns. The comparison was before versus after intake in two dose groups.Limitation: Parallel 5 g and 10 g dose groups with no placebo or non-mushroom control. Short 4-week study in healthy young adults, with mostly ex vivo immune markers.PubMed 25866155 · 2 more shiitake mushrooms studies
  • 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
  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger 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

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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Frequently asked questions

What is maitake mushroom traditionally used for in this soup?

In Chinese medicine, maitake is considered sweet in flavour and neutral in nature, traditionally used to support the body's energy, clear mild dampness, and ease urinary discomfort. Combined with shiitake, fresh yam, and goji berries, it contributes to a broth that is traditionally associated with supporting immune function and general wellness.

Is this soup suitable for people managing diabetes?

Yes. The recipe notes that this soup is especially suited to people managing diabetes, describing the combination of maitake, shiitake, fresh yam, and goji as gentle and nourishing without being heavy. It is also noted as mild enough to take regularly as part of everyday food.

How long does this soup take to make, and how much does it yield?

The soup requires about 20 minutes of preparation and 2 hours of simmering, for a total time of 2 hours 20 minutes. It yields approximately 0.9 to 1.2 litres of broth.

Why should I keep the mushroom soaking water instead of discarding it?

The recipe advises that the water used to soak both the maitake and dried shiitake carries a good deal of flavour and nutrition. Nourilo considers it a waste to throw it away, and instructs you to add it directly to the pot as part of the 2.4 L of cooking liquid.

Is this soup suitable for the whole family, including children and the elderly?

The recipe describes the soup as nourishing without being heavy and states it is suitable for the whole family. It is also noted as mild enough to take regularly, making it an option as gentle, nourishing everyday food.

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