Soups
Potato, Tangerine Peel and Crucian Carp Soup
traditionally used to warm and strengthen a cold, weak spleen and stomach
In short: Potato, Tangerine Peel and Crucian Carp Soup is a soup that traditionally used to warm and strengthen a cold, weak spleen and stomach. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, digestive wellness, energy & vitality. Total time about 60 min. Key ingredients: potato, tangerine peel, ginger, red dates.
Why people make this soup
Crucian carp is a humble everyday fish — deeply nourishing in a quiet, unpretentious way. Its flesh is delicate and fine-grained, with a naturally sweet flavor and very little fat. In traditional Chinese food therapy it is one of the go-to ingredients for anyone whose digestive system runs cold — that is, people who tend toward bloating, poor appetite, loose stools, or low energy after meals. The traditional approach with this fish is to pan-fry it first until golden on both sides, then add boiling water and simmer — this technique turns the soup milky white and creamy, drawing out the protein and mineral goodness of the fish.
Potato, often overlooked as a health food, is actually a wonderful companion in this soup: rich in potassium and B vitamins, it is associated in research with supporting mood stability and resilience against low spirits — a welcome bonus in uncertain times. Tangerine peel and ginger add warmth, aid digestion, and reduce any fishy notes from the carp.
What studies say about the key ingredients
Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.
- Tangerine peel
The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325 - Ginger
Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies - Red dates
Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies
From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.
Safety first — read before you cook
This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
- take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
- have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.
Ingredient notes for this recipe
- Rice wine / alcohol: This recipe contains alcohol. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the NHS recommends not drinking alcohol; leave it out or choose another recipe. Source: NHS — Alcohol in pregnancy
Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes
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