Snow Fungus, Walnut and Sea-Cucumber Double-Boiled Tonic

Why people make this tonic

In traditional thinking, when the body has been worn down — by illness itself, or by the rigors of treatment — the priority is to rebuild the body’s foundation, especially after surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Bro Niu’s snow fungus, walnut and sea-cucumber tonic is a gentle, double-boiled bowl traditionally taken to support the kidney essence and nourish the lungs and stomach, which is why people who feel weak and depleted reach for it to help build strength.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suits people who feel weak and depleted, including those recovering after radiotherapy or chemotherapy and looking to rebuild strength.
• Not for those with a damp, weak spleen or loose, watery stools. This is a supportive food only — anyone with a serious illness should be guided by their doctor.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Sea cucumber (hai shen): traditionally associated with nourishing the kidney essence and the blood; gentle and not heating.
• Snow fungus (xue er): traditionally associated with moistening the lungs and nourishing the stomach.
• Walnut (he tao rou): traditionally associated with supporting the kidney.
• Dried scallop (yao zhu) & red dates: add savory-sweet depth and are associated with nourishing qi and blood.

Ingredients (2–3 servings)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Snow fungus	~11 g (3 qian)	Soak, remove the hard stem
Walnut kernels	~38 g (1 tael)	Soak soft
Rehydrated sea cucumber	1–2	Blanch and cut into chunks
Dried scallop	~38 g (1 tael)	Soak soft; omit if using rock sugar instead
Red dates	6	Pitted

Method

1. Soak the snow fungus, scallop and walnut until soft; remove the stem from the snow fungus.
2. Blanch the sea cucumber, then cut into chunks.
3. Put all ingredients in a double-boiling pot, pour in 3 bowls of boiling water, and double-boil (covered, over water) about 3 hours.
4. Serve, eating the soup with the solids.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tonic is traditionally taken to help support the body and improve a depleted, weak feeling. The one caution: those with a damp, weak spleen or loose stools should not drink it. If you prefer it lightly sweet, you can skip the salty scallop and add good dried figs instead, which give a lung-moistening, beautifying quality.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Crystal Woo): How do I rehydrate sea cucumber? Bro Niu: For a smooth or spiny sea cucumber: soak half a day, boil 20 minutes, turn off and steep 2 hours, then soak in clean water overnight. Day two, cut open, remove the gut, scrub off the grit, boil again 20 minutes and steep 2 hours, then soak overnight. Day three, if a chopstick pierces through easily it’s ready; portion and freeze. Keep everything oil-free during soaking.

• Q (Jess): My Chinese doctor told me to nourish yin and eat sea cucumber, snow fungus and rock sugar, but to avoid red dates. Can I make this without red dates, with rock sugar, simmered rather than double-boiled? Bro Niu: If you use rock sugar, skip the scallop (it’s salty). The other ingredients are fine — sea cucumber is bland, so rock sugar works. Instead of red dates, add good dried figs for a lung-moistening, beautifying effect.

• Q (新手蔡太 / reader): Can frozen sea cucumber from the supermarket be used for soup, and how do I prepare it? Bro Niu: Yes — rinse the frozen sea cucumber clean, blanch it in boiling water, then make the soup. Walnut kernels can be bought at a grocery; the kind with the skin still on the meat is better.

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Published September 13, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.