Moon Fish, Fresh Chinese Yam, Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb & Dried Oyster Soup

Why people make this soup

The transition through menopause — and the less-talked-about male equivalent — can show up in many ways: disrupted sleep, a mind that races at night, sudden waves of warmth, a shorter fuse, memory that feels hazier than before. Traditional Cantonese food therapy views this period as a time when the body’s yin reserves naturally decline, and the strategy is to nourish rather than fight. This soup brings together a group of ingredients that have been used for centuries in southern Chinese households to support this particular phase of life. It is not a cure and it is not a hormone replacement — it is simply a warm, genuinely delicious pot of soup that supports the body with real, nourishing ingredients.

Method

1. Rinse and soak the dried moon fish and dried oysters briefly. Blanch both in boiling water for 1–2 minutes; drain.
2. Peel the fresh Chinese yam and cut into large chunks.
3. Remove the bitter green centre (heart) from each fresh lotus seed.
4. Rinse the lily bulb; remove the pitted stones from the red dates.
5. Place all ingredients into a large pot. Add 2.4–2.7 L of cold water.
6. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer gently for 2 hours until liquid reduces to 1.2–1.5 L.
7. Serve hot, eating both the soup and the cooked ingredients.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup is deeply nourishing without being excessively rich or drying. If fresh Chinese yam and fresh lotus seeds are not available, dry versions (38 g each) work perfectly well. If there are more people at the table, adding some lean pork shin gives the soup extra body and makes it even more satisfying. For elderly family members experiencing frequent nighttime urination — a separate concern from menopause symptoms — a more targeted soup would be a better choice: try white ginkgo (10 pieces), euryale seeds, raspberry fruit, and red dates cooked with pork bladder for that specific pattern.