Home-Style Dishes

Fresh Ginseng, Chinese Yam and Goji Stewed Silkie Chicken

traditionally used to nourish qi and blood, and support warmth and vitality

In short: Fresh Ginseng, Chinese Yam and Goji Stewed Silkie Chicken is a home-style dishe that traditionally used to nourish qi and blood, and support warmth and vitality. It is most often made for energy & vitality, blood nourishment, everyday balance. Total time about 3 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: goji berries, ginger, red dates, silkie chicken (black chicken).

Prep
20 min
Cook
3 hr
Total
3 hr 20 min
Makes
0.9–1.2 L
Fresh Ginseng, Chinese Yam and Goji Stewed Silkie Chicken

Why people make this stew

Cold weather is the traditional time for warming, nourishing soups in Chinese cooking. Fresh ginseng — sometimes called “water ginseng” because it is harvested without drying or processing — has a gentler, milder flavour than dried red ginseng, though its moisture content (around 70–75%) means it is less concentrated. In traditional food therapy, it is associated with supporting the spleen and qi, and is considered appropriate for people who tire easily or feel the cold more than others. Paired with the natural sweetness of Chinese yam, goji berries, red dates, and silkie chicken, this double-boiled stew is both comforting and nourishing.

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.

  • Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
    Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies
  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    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 · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    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

  • Ginseng: May interfere with blood clotting, might lower blood sugar and may worsen autoimmune conditions. Some experts advise against it for children and during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Asian Ginseng
  • Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium

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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