Chinese Yam, Fresh Dendrobium and Fish Maw Double-Boiled Stew

Why people make this stew

Fresh dendrobium orchid stems have a long history in Chinese food therapy and are prized for their ability to nourish yin, generate fluids and support clear eyesight. Fresh dendrobium is available at Chinese or Asian grocers and specialist herb shops. When combined with fish maw and Chinese yam in a double-boiled stew, it creates something genuinely nourishing and restorative.

This combination is traditionally considered both clearing and nourishing — neither too cooling nor too warming — which is exactly what you want around the time of surgery, when the body needs support without being taxed. Traditional food therapy associates this stew with clearing metabolic toxins, supporting the blood, helping the body adapt to the stress of surgery, and promoting wound healing from within.