Home-Style Dishes
Fresh Yam, Goji and Chicken Breast Stewed with Fish Maw
Traditionally used to nourish and support recovery after surgery, childbirth or illness
Why people make this stew
Bro Niu remembers an elderly lady, nearly ninety, who fell on the street and fractured her shoulder blade. The doctors felt that at her age the bone would be slow to mend and could only offer painkillers — yet not long after she was up and about again, the fracture healed. Her daughter had been regularly stewing good-quality fish maw for her. Fine fish maw is rich in collagen, gelatin and minerals, and in the traditional view supports the body’s own repair. That story is why this gentle stew is a favourite for people who are run-down after an operation, childbirth or illness.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with poor colour, fatigue or weakness after surgery, childbirth or a bout of illness.
- Avoid if you have an unresolved cold or flu, a weak spleen and stomach, or are allergic to seafood.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fish maw (hua jiao): Rich in high-grade collagen, gelatin, calcium and trace elements; traditionally associated with supporting wound healing and self-repair, immunity, digestion and nerve function.
- Fresh Chinese yam (huai shan): Tonifies qi and yin and supports the lung, kidney and digestion.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Nourish the liver and support the eyes.
- Chicken breast, ginger: Add lean protein and gentle warmth.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh Chinese yam | ~150 g | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Goji berries | ~11 g | Rinse and soak |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Chicken breast | 1 | Chopped into large pieces, blanched |
| Soaked fish maw | ~113 g | Rinsed |
Method
- Peel the fresh yam and cut into chunks; rinse and soak the goji; chop the chicken breast into large pieces and blanch; rinse the soaked fish maw.
- Put everything in a stewing pot, add 4 bowls of boiling water.
- Double-boil for 2 hours; eat the soup and ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
Don’t cook soaked fish maw too long or the gelatin leaches away. To soak it: half-soak the fish maw, then drop it into boiling ginger-and-spring-onion water, turn off the heat at once and let it sit covered for half an hour — then it’s ready to use.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader): My daughter fractured her foot about a month ago and just had the cast off, but her foot and toes still have bruising and swelling and ache. What soup can help her recover? Bro Niu: A foot fracture takes two to three months to heal fully; during that time, do some gentle physiotherapy even if it hurts. For food therapy, simmer ba ji, du zhong and ji xue teng (5 qian each), chuan niu xi (3 qian) and 5 red dates with pork shin, 2–3 times a week — it supports the liver and kidney, strengthens sinew and bone and is soothing. If she has the appetite, a stew of fish maw and chicken can help speed recovery.
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Q (reader): Is the ba ji / du zhong soup suitable for a yin-deficient, fire-prone constitution? Bro Niu: Ba ji and du zhong are fairly warming. If you are yin-deficient and fire-prone but still need to support the liver and kidney and strengthen sinew and bone, use 3 qian of each and add some Solomon’s seal (yu zhu) and figs to make it more suitable.
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Q (reader): After surgery my elder sister had no salt in her sweat — it was bland — and she runs hot at night, sleeping poorly. What should I cook for her? Bro Niu: Hers is qi-and-yin deficiency, so add wu wei zi (3 qian), licorice (gan cao, 2 qian) and 4 black dates to bei qi and fu xiao mai — this supports qi, nourishes yin and helps with weak sweating. Take for a week. A little ginger vinegar is fine, but not too much or it may bring on heat.
Published September 10, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
