Soups
Hairy Gourd Maitake Goji Berry Partridge Soup
Traditionally used for summer nourishment, immune support, and replenishing vital energy
In short: Hairy Gourd Maitake Goji Berry Partridge Soup is a soup that Traditionally used for summer nourishment, immune support, and replenishing vital energy. It is most often made for energy & vitality, immune support, everyday balance. Total time about 80 min. Key ingredients: hairy gourd / fuzzy melon, goji berries, ginger, partridge.
Why people make this soup
There is a well-known Cantonese saying: “yi gu ding jiu ji” — “one partridge is worth nine chickens.” Whether or not this is literally true nutritionally, partridge is genuinely impressive: it is high in protein, low in fat, and low in cholesterol compared with most poultry, and it is associated in Chinese food therapy with nourishing the lungs, nourishing qi, transforming phlegm and supporting the five vital organs. During summer, when heavy meat stews feel too rich, partridge makes an ideal base for a light but sustaining soup. Maitake mushroom (also known as “hen of the woods”) has been extensively studied for its beta-glucan content, which is associated with immune modulation, blood sugar support, and anti-tumour activity. Combined with the gentle cooling and replenishing effects of hairy gourd and the liver-nourishing, vision-supporting properties of goji berry, this is a summer soup that genuinely nourishes without weighing the body down.
Method
- Peel (scrape) the hairy gourd and cut into chunks.
- Soak and rinse the maitake mushroom and goji berries.
- Clean the partridge thoroughly; blanch in boiling water briefly to remove any impurities. Drain.
- Place all ingredients into a pot with 2.1 L of water.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to a medium simmer, and cook for 1 hour until 1.2 L remain.
- Serve warm. The whole family can enjoy this soup, and the meat is pleasant to eat.
Nourilo’s Tips
This soup is naturally sweet and fresh-tasting — the whole family will enjoy it. If you cannot find partridge, frozen French quail (法国鹌鹑) is an excellent substitute, available at Chinese grocery stores and Asian food suppliers. Quail is similarly prized in food therapy and is sometimes called “moving ginseng” for its dense nourishment in a small package. The soup is also suitable for cancer patients — maitake mushroom and goji berries are both associated with supporting immune function, and 姬松茸 (agaricus blazei) can be used as an alternative mushroom if maitake is unavailable.
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
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
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
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
- 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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