Soups
Fish Maw, Dried Conch & Organic Chicken Soup
Traditionally supports skin nourishment, kidney health, and overall vitality
Why people make this soup
Around the Mid-Autumn Festival, families in Cantonese-speaking households often reach for premium dried seafood: fish maw, conch, and dried scallop. These ingredients have been prized for centuries in Southern Chinese cooking, not just for their rich, satisfying flavour but for the nourishment they are traditionally believed to offer. Fish maw — the dried swim bladder of large fish — is loaded with collagen-like proteins. Paired with aromatic dried conch and a good free-range chicken, the result is a deeply savoury, gently warming double-steamed soup that feels genuinely restorative after a busy season.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for adults and children of most constitutions; the whole family can enjoy it
- Those with a weak digestion may find fish maw heavy — drink the broth and limit how much fish maw you eat in one sitting
- Fish maw is rich and can cause bloating if eaten in large quantities; moderation is wise
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fish maw (hua jiao / 花胶): Traditionally regarded as tonifying the kidneys and nourishing the body with high-density gelatinous proteins; long valued in Chinese culinary medicine for supporting skin suppleness
- Dried conch (xiang luo gan / 响螺干): In traditional food therapy, believed to nourish yin and replenish qi and blood, providing a mild restorative effect
- Dried scallop (yao zhu / 瑶柱): Adds intense umami depth and is traditionally considered to support the kidneys and stomach
- Red dates (hong zao / 红枣): Gently sweet; traditionally used to nourish the blood and calm the mind
- Organic free-range chicken: Provides protein and body to the broth; free-range birds raised without synthetic hormones are preferred
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fish maw (hua jiao), pre-soaked | ~225 g (6 liang) | Soak in water overnight until fully expanded, then cut into pieces |
| Dried conch (xiang luo gan) | 4–5 pieces | Rinse and soak in water before use |
| Dried scallop (yao zhu) | 3 pieces | Rinse briefly |
| Red dates (hong zao), pitted | 5 | Remove stones |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | Peeled |
| Organic free-range chicken | 1/2 bird | Chop into large pieces |
| Boiling water | 5–6 bowls | For double steaming |
Method
- Soak the fish maw in cold water overnight (or at least 4–5 hours) until fully expanded; drain and cut into large pieces.
- Rinse the dried conch in water to remove any grit; soak briefly.
- Blanch the fish maw, dried conch, and chicken pieces separately in boiling water for 1–2 minutes to remove impurities; drain and rinse.
- Place all the blanched ingredients — fish maw, conch, chicken — into a large ceramic steaming pot (炖盅). Add the dried scallops, pitted red dates, and ginger slices.
- Pour in 5–6 bowls of freshly boiled water (not cold water).
- Steam over high heat in a pot of water for 2 hours. Top up the outer water as needed.
- Serve hot, drinking the broth and eating the tender fish maw and chicken.
Bro Niu’s tips
Fish maw comes in two main types — male belly (肚公) and female belly (肚乸). Their nutritional value is roughly the same, but the male variety holds its texture better during long cooking and gives you that satisfying, firm-yet-silky bite in the bowl. The female variety tends to melt more readily. For a visually appealing pot that stays beautiful, the male fish maw is the better choice — and happily, it is usually less expensive too.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Karen): Would this soup be too warming for a four-year-old child? Can silkie chicken be used instead? Bro Niu: Children of four can enjoy this soup — it is not overly warming. However, fish maw is rich and can be heavy on young stomachs, so it is fine to drink just the broth without giving them much fish maw. Silkie chicken can certainly be used as a substitute.
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Q (Priscilla): What brand of organic chicken do you use? Bro Niu: Look for organic free-range chickens raised without synthetic hormones — Kadoorie Farm varieties are one good example if you are in the region. Any quality free-range bird will work well.
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Q (Goo): For someone with very light periods, is lotus root soup helpful or should it be avoided? Bro Niu: Someone with a lighter period can certainly drink lotus root soup. Adding a little dried cuttlefish and red dates makes it even better. Lotus root node (the joint section) is the part specifically used to help slow heavy bleeding, so the rest of the root is fine for those with lighter flow.
Published September 21, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
