Nourilo

Soups

Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, Longan and Silkie Chicken Soup

traditionally associated with nourishing the blood, supporting restful sleep and easing fatigue

By · Registered Nutritionist & TCM Practitioner

Prep
20 min
Cook
90 min
Total
110 min
Makes
1.2 L
Sleep & CalmEnergy & VitalityBlood NourishmentEveryday Balance
Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, Longan and Silkie Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

As autumn deepens and mornings start with a chill, this is the soup Cantonese families reach for. It is the kind of pot that warms you from the inside — not just physically, but emotionally. In traditional Chinese food therapy, silkie chicken (wu ji, literally “black-boned chicken”) is considered more medicinally valuable than regular chicken: darker in colour, richer in certain minerals, and associated with nourishing the liver, kidneys and blood. Combined with the classic sleep-supporting trio of lotus seeds, lily bulb and longan flesh, alongside nourishing red dates, this is a soup with real purpose and genuine warmth. Nourilo recommends it for anyone feeling persistently tired, mentally foggy, pale, or struggling to sleep well.

Members only

Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips

One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,303 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.

  • Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,303 recipes
  • Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
  • One-time payment via PayPal · no subscription, no renewals

Checking your access…

Frequently asked questions

Is this soup suitable during a cold, fever, or when I feel hot and heavy?

No. Because longan, red dates and silkie chicken are all warming in nature, this soup is not suitable during a cold, fever, or when you are already feeling hot or heavy with dampness — the warmth can make things worse, not better.

What role does silkie chicken play in this recipe?

In traditional Chinese food therapy, silkie chicken is associated with nourishing the liver, kidneys and blood. It is considered more medicinally valuable than regular chicken, being darker in colour and richer in certain minerals.

What is this soup traditionally associated with?

This soup is a classic Cantonese recipe traditionally associated with calming the mind, supporting restful sleep, easing fatigue and nourishing the liver and kidneys, as part of a balanced diet through the cooler autumn and winter months.

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

The recipe yields approximately 1.2 L of soup. It takes around 20 minutes of preparation and 90 minutes of cooking, for a total time of about 1 hour 50 minutes.

Can pregnant women drink this soup?

The tips in this recipe suggest that pregnant women swap the longan flesh for goji berries, which provide nourishment without the excessive warming effect that longan carries.

You might also like

Related recipes

More soups →

Comments

Loading comments…