Soups
Mulberry, Goji Berry, Baby Abalone & Chicken Breast Soup
Traditionally used to nourish liver-kidney, support eye health, and relieve mental and physical fatigue
Why people make this soup
After middle age, health has a tendency to decline quietly — and many people push through long working days on a screen, staring at phone and computer until their eyes ache and their minds feel dull. Mulberries (sang shen) and goji berries (gou qi zi) are two of the most widely used food-therapy ingredients for eye support in Chinese tradition; together they are classically used to ease eye dryness, reduce visual fatigue, and nourish the liver-blood that underpins healthy eyesight. Abalone — called “the fish of bright eyes” (ming mu yu) in Chinese tradition — is particularly valued for people who experience frequent nocturia, declining vision, and qi-blood weakness. Bro Niu built this soup around these three vision-supporting ingredients and kept the protein source light (chicken breast), making it gentle enough for those who are “too deficient to receive tonics” — people whose bodies are so depleted that rich, heavy supplements feel overwhelming.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people of all ages who spend many hours at screens and experience tired, dry, or aching eyes
- Suitable for middle-aged adults with declining vision, fatigue, memory issues, and low immunity
- Particularly suited to those who are “too deficient to tolerate rich tonics” — gentle enough for sensitive digestion
- Generally suitable for most people; no strong contraindications at this dose
- If cooking with the abalone shell (shi jue ming), scrape it thoroughly clean before use
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Dried mulberries (sang shen zi): Rich in anthocyanins; traditionally classified as a liver-kidney tonic that nourishes blood, benefits the eyes, and moistens dryness; considered a natural antioxidant
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): The most classic Chinese eye-support food-herb; nourishes liver-blood and kidney yin; sweet, mild, and suitable for daily use
- Dried longan flesh (yuan rou): Nourishes heart-blood and calms the mind; supports sleep quality and addresses mental fatigue
- Red jujube (hong zao): Tonifies qi and blood, harmonises the formula, adds gentle sweetness
- Baby abalone (xian bao yu zai): Known as “the fish of bright eyes”; traditionally supports vision, addresses frequent nocturia, and tonifies qi-blood without causing overheating
- Chicken breast: Lean, clean protein that provides nourishment without excessive fat; avoids making the soup overly rich
Ingredients (about 4–5 bowls / 3–4 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried mulberries | 19 g (5 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Goji berries | 11 g (3 qian) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Dried longan flesh | 11 g (3 qian) | |
| Red jujube dates | 5 pieces | Pitted |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Baby abalone (fresh) | 6 pieces | Cleaned; shell optional (scrape clean first) |
| Chicken breast | 1 piece (~200–250 g) |
Method
- Rinse and soak the mulberries and goji berries briefly. Pit the jujube dates.
- Clean the baby abalone: scrub the flesh and the shell (if using the shell) carefully.
- Blanch the abalone and chicken breast together in boiling water briefly, then drain and rinse.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls (about 2 litres) of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1.5 hours.
- Serve warm, eating the abalone, chicken, and jujube alongside the soup.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup can be cooked with the baby abalone shells included — the shell is known in Chinese medicine as “shi jue ming” and is associated with clearing liver heat, calming the liver, and supporting eye and blood pressure conditions. However, fresh small abalone shells can harbour parasites, so they must be thoroughly scraped and scrubbed before being added to the pot.
Published August 28, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
