Soups
Pheasant, Abalone and Carrot Soup
Traditionally used to nourish the liver and kidneys for those managing blood sugar
Why people make this soup
Pheasant (shan ji) often turns up at live-poultry stalls, and Bro Niu loves it for soup — clear, sweet and far less greasy than ordinary chicken. Paired with fresh abalone and carrot, it makes a nourishing, homely bowl that is traditionally used to nourish the liver and kidneys. It is associated with easing the weariness, blurry or fading vision, restless sleep, ringing ears and forgetfulness that can accompany liver-kidney depletion in people managing blood sugar.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People managing blood sugar who feel run down, with blurry vision, restless sleep or ringing ears.
- It does not replace diabetes care — keep sensible eating habits, go easy on rich, fried and very sweet foods, and keep up with your doctor.
- No pheasant? Silkie chicken (zhu si ji) or lean pork can stand in.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Pheasant (shan ji): traditionally prized as a clear, sweet, low-grease meat for nourishing soups.
- Abalone (bao yu): traditionally used to nourish the liver and is associated with supporting vision.
- Carrot (gan sun): adds natural sweetness and is traditionally considered nourishing and gentle.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): the warming aromatic that rounds out the soup.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pheasant (shan ji) | half a bird | Chopped, blanched |
| Frozen fresh abalone | 1 | Thawed, gut removed, blanched; cook whole |
| Carrots (gan sun) | 2 | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices |
Method
- Chop the pheasant and blanch; thaw the abalone, remove the gut, and blanch; peel and chunk the carrots.
- Put all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Simmer down to 4 bowls. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
Cook the frozen abalone whole in the soup, then lift it out and slice it for serving — otherwise the flesh turns tough. If you can’t get Australian frozen abalone, fresh abalone works fine.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Zheng Le): I can’t find pheasant — can I use silkie chicken or lean pork instead? Bro Niu: Yes, you can use silkie chicken or lean pork.
- Q (Zheng Le): Many of your abalone soups use fresh abalone — can I use dried abalone? How does the cooking differ? Bro Niu: Fresh or frozen abalone is no problem. Dried abalone is fine if it’s small and fully rehydrated; larger dried abalone needs many hours of cooking to become tender.
Published February 19, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
