Soups
Chinese Yam, Lotus Seed, and Euryale Quail Soup
traditionally used to nourish the spleen and stomach and support digestive health in children
Why people make this soup
In traditional Chinese food-therapy thinking, children are considered to have naturally vigorous liver energy but a relatively weaker digestive system. This imbalance can show up as frequent phlegm and coughing, poor appetite, low energy, or loose stools. Rather than reaching straight for herbs, Bro Niu often starts with a good soup.
This combination — quail with Chinese yam, lotus seeds, and fox nut — is one of the most trusted recipes in Cantonese children’s wellness cooking. Quail is called “the ginseng of the animal kingdom” because it provides rich nourishment without causing internal heat, making it safe for regular use in little ones. The whole family can share this soup, and it is suitable across all four seasons.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for children with frequent phlegm, coughing, weak digestion, poor appetite, or pale complexion; suitable for the whole family
- Children with an active cold, fever, or flu should wait until fully recovered before having this soup
- Particularly helpful for children who produce a lot of phlegm, as a stronger digestive system is traditionally associated with reduced phlegm production
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chinese yam (huai shan): Gently nourishes both the spleen and the kidney; one of the most widely used tonic foods for children’s digestive health
- Lotus seeds (lian zi): Traditionally associated with calming the mind, supporting the heart, and strengthening the spleen; using lotus seeds with the inner green embryo (lian xin) adds heart-clearing properties
- Euryale / fox nut (qian shi): Traditionally used to consolidate kidney qi and support the spleen, and associated with reducing excessive phlegm and urinary frequency
- Quail (an chun): Highly digestible protein source; said to nourish all five organ systems without causing heat
- Red dates (hong zao): Naturally sweet, traditionally associated with replenishing qi and blood
- Ginger (sheng jiang): Warms and activates the stomach
Ingredients (4 bowls / 2–4 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese yam (huai shan) | 38 g (1 liang) | Dried slices; rinse |
| Lotus seeds (lian zi) | 38 g (1 liang) | Rinse; keep inner embryo if available |
| Euryale / fox nut (qian shi) | 38 g (1 liang) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Red dates | 6 pieces | Remove pits to reduce warmth |
| Frozen quail | 2 birds | Thaw, clean, and blanch first |
| Water | 8 bowls (~1.6 L) | Simmer down to about 4 bowls |
Method
- Thaw the quail, rinse thoroughly, and blanch in boiling water for 2–3 minutes. Drain.
- Rinse Chinese yam, lotus seeds, and euryale seeds; remove pits from the dates.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for approximately 2 hours.
- Serve the soup and encourage children to eat some of the solid ingredients too.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is suitable for the whole family and can be drunk across all seasons. If the child tends to run hot (lots of internal heat), add a small amount of snow fungus (xue er, ~8 g) and lily bulb (~38 g) to the pot. Red dates should have the pits removed to avoid excessive warmth; alternatively, use nan zao (southern dates) for a less warming effect. You may replace ginger with dried tangerine peel (chen pi) for a lighter, more fragrant result.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (V): My son is 4 years old. He has had a white tongue coating and cold hands and feet for several months, and frequent night urination. Is this soup suitable for him? Bro Niu: Yes, he can have this soup. For frequent night urination, you can also add 3 qian of raspberry (fu pen zi — the dried wild red berry) to help reduce nighttime trips to the bathroom.
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Q (fanny50631): Should the red dates be pitted? Can I use southern dates (nan zao) instead? Bro Niu: Yes, the red dates should be pitted. Using southern dates instead will make the soup less warming. Slice the ginger thinly, or substitute with one piece of dried tangerine peel.
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Q (Ka): Can this soup be drunk in summer? Bro Niu: This soup is suitable in all four seasons.
Published June 14, 2013 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
