Soups
Tomato, Potato and Sea-Fish Soup
Traditionally used to support bone health and the skin
Why people make this soup
A fresh sea fish like leopard coral grouper simmered with tomato and potato makes a beautifully rich and sweet everyday broth. Tomato and potato are everyday sources of vitamins and minerals traditionally associated with supporting the bones, and the soup is also valued for nourishing the skin. Bro Niu finds live sea fish yield a wonderfully fragrant, full-flavoured result — worth trying when fresh fish is available at your fishmonger or Asian market.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- A gentle family soup for everyone, traditionally enjoyed to support bone health, the skin and graceful ageing.
- Because tomato is rich in folate, this soup is often recommended for expectant and new mothers; the ginger keeps the fish from being too cooling.
- If you are managing a specific health condition, check with your own doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Tomato (fan qie): A good everyday source of vitamins and folate, traditionally valued to support the skin and the bones.
- Potato (shu zai): Provides minerals and a naturally sweet, satisfying body to the broth.
- Fresh sea fish (hai yu): Lightly pan-fried first for a clear, fragrant, savoury-sweet soup.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): Balances the cooling nature of fish so the soup sits gently.
Ingredients (4 bowls / 1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | 2–3 | Wash, cut into chunks |
| Potatoes | 2 | Peel, cut into chunks |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Fresh sea fish | ~450 g | Cleaned, pan-fried |
Method
- Wash and cut the tomatoes; peel and cut the potatoes.
- Clean the fish and pan-fry in a little oil until fragrant.
- Bring 7 bowls of water to a boil, add all the ingredients, and simmer 1 hour down to about 4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is very fresh and sweet, suitable for young and old. Because tomato is rich in folate, which is good for a developing baby, it’s well suited to expectant and new mothers as a regular soup.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (reader): Will adding ginger to the soup make it heating? Bro Niu: Many poultry, fresh fish, seafood or cooling ingredients are well suited to a little ginger. Matched well, ginger can be used often. Too much will of course tend toward heatiness — for example, eating too much of the tasty ginger in pork-knuckle-and-ginger easily causes heat.
- Q (Xiao Mei): I’m in my twenties with an ovarian cyst; my period is usually punctual but is now days late, with a pre-period temperature of 37.7°C plus nausea and cramps. Bro Niu: A low fever before the period isn’t ideal — best to see a doctor to find the cause, as an infection can also cause low fever. Meanwhile avoid any tonic herbal soups; you may cook a hawthorn (shan zha), brown sugar and ginger drink to warm the womb and see if it helps.
Published March 20, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
