Snakehead Fish Soup with Chinese Yam, Goji and Red Dates

Why people make this soup

After an illness, a lot of people find their digestion has not bounced back — the appetite is poor, and even slightly rich food sits heavy and won’t absorb. Nourilo’s advice is to start gentle, with foods that ease the spleen and stomach back to work. Snakehead fish is full of amino acids, nourishing yet easy to digest, which makes it a classic pick for people just getting back on their feet.

Method

1. Clean the snakehead fish and pan-fry it in a little oil until golden and fragrant.
2. Rinse the yam, goji and red dates. Slice the pork and blanch it.
3. Put everything in a pot with 2.4 L of water and simmer about 2 hours, down to roughly 1.2 L. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

Snakehead fish is traditionally said to help tissue knit together, which is why it is often used to nourish people after surgery to support wound healing. Do not use it too early, though — wait about a week after the operation.