Soups
Peanut Sprout and Fish Head Soup
Traditionally used to support the body through menopause
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu likes to remind everyone that menopause is not only a women’s affair. Men go through it too, usually later and more quietly, so the signs often get overlooked. The good news is that with sensible eating, a cheerful outlook, regular rest and a bit of movement, both women and men can sail through this stage comfortably. This soup is one of Bro Niu’s gentle picks for that season of life.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Men and women going through menopause who want a warm, nourishing, easy-to-enjoy soup
- Anyone wanting a comforting family soup; it is mild enough for young and old
- Caution: people with itchy skin problems or unexplained swellings (无名肿毒) are traditionally advised not to take this soup
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Peanut sprouts (hua sheng ya): research is associated with their polyphenols helping balance hormones, which traditionally is said to ease the ups and downs of this stage.
- Bighead carp head (da yu tou): sweet in flavour and warming by nature; traditionally said to support the kidneys, strengthen the sinews and bones, and warm the spleen and stomach — helpful for tiredness, dizziness and waning mental energy.
- Red dates (hong zao) and ginger (sheng jiang): add warmth and a gentle sweetness, traditionally used to support blood and settle the stomach.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut sprouts | 1 box (~115–150 g) | Available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Red dates | 5 | Pitted |
| Bighead carp head | 1 | Cleaned |
Method
- Rinse the peanut sprouts clean. Pit the red dates.
- Clean the fish head, then pan-fry it in a little oil until fragrant.
- Put everything in a pot with 7–8 bowls of water and simmer for 45 minutes until reduced to 3–4 bowls.
- Serve the soup together with the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is fresh-tasting and suits young and old. But if you have itchy skin or unexplained swellings, give it a miss for now.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader): My mother often feels overly full after meals and her tummy rumbles loudly all day, then she passes a lot of wind. She had her gallbladder removed and has a fatty liver. Can red date, aged tangerine peel and millet congee help? Bro Niu: It sounds like spleen-stomach qi weakness with a lot of trapped gas and bloating. The aged tangerine peel, red date and millet congee is good; you can also add about 7 g of sha ren (cardamom), cooked in a tea bag and removed before serving.
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Q (reader): Can mistletoe (sang ji sheng) be taken by the whole family? For 8 people, how much should I use, and can my daughter take it during her period? Bro Niu: For 8 people use about 75 g. It has a slightly bitter, astringent taste, so it tastes better in a sweet soup — for example with lotus seeds, red dates and egg. Or pair it with five-finger fig (wu zhi mao tao), Chinese yam, chestnuts and red dates in a pork shin soup; the whole family can enjoy it. It is traditionally used to support the spleen, liver and kidneys and to strengthen the sinews and bones.
Published March 26, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
