Soups
Cordyceps-Flower, Lily Bulb and Partridge Soup
Traditionally used to support and strengthen the lungs in children prone to coughs
Why people make this soup
Little ones who have just started school often catch a bug and then cough on and on, which worries any parent. For children whose lung “qi” tends to be weak, the old approach is to wait until the cold has fully passed, then use a gentle food-therapy soup to build the lungs back up. Partridge is traditionally said to tonify the centre, benefit the five organs and transform phlegm; paired with cordyceps flower, lily bulb, mai dong and apricot kernels — all classically used to clear the heart, moisten the lungs and nourish — it makes a kind, helpful pot for a child who catches coughs easily.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits the whole family, young and old, especially children with weak lungs who cough easily — given after the cold has cleared
- Do not give while an external cold, fever or active cough is still present
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Partridge (zhe gu): Traditionally tonifies the centre and benefits the five organs; associated with strengthening lung qi and transforming phlegm.
- Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua): A mushroom traditionally used to nourish and support the lungs gently; it lends the soup a natural golden colour.
- Lily bulb and mai dong (bai he, mai dong): Classically used to moisten the lungs and ease dryness.
- Apricot kernels (nan bei xing): Long associated with moistening the lungs and easing coughs.
- Ginger and red dates: Warm and balance the pot; ginger is always added when simmering poultry.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cordyceps flower | ~38 g (1 liang) | |
| Dried lily bulb | ~38 g (1 liang) | |
| Mai dong (dwarf lilyturf root) | ~19 g (5 qian) | |
| Sweet & bitter apricot kernels | ~38 g (1 liang) | |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | |
| Red dates (jujube) | 6 | |
| Partridge | 1 | Quail (an chun) may be substituted |
Method
- Clean and dress the partridge, then blanch it.
- Rinse and soak the remaining ingredients.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water.
- Simmer 2 hours, reducing to 4 bowls. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
When simmering any poultry soup, always add two slices of ginger. This soup suits the whole family, young and old — but not while an external cold is still unresolved. If ginger gives you a sore throat, use dried tangerine peel (chen pi) instead.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Sally): Is there a difference between partridge and quail here? Bro Niu: Partridge is nourishing and especially tonifies lung qi — good for those with weak lungs. Quail is called the “ginseng of animals,” tonifies the five organs, and benefits the frail and growing children.
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Q (Apple): Can the cordyceps flower be eaten by women who are trying to conceive or already pregnant? Which soups can include it? Bro Niu: Cordyceps flower is fine for pregnant women. It is lovely simmered with Chinese yam, goji and red dates, or with sha shen, yu zhu and mai dong in a lean-pork soup.
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Q (cathy wong): I made this today — the soup came out yellow from the cordyceps flower. Is that normal? Bro Niu: Yes — cordyceps flower naturally releases an orange-yellow colour. No problem at all.
Published November 11, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
