Soups
Four-Spirit Beef Loach Fish Soup
Traditionally strengthens the spleen and kidney and supports recovery
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu shares this one with a personal note: he is always careful about his health, yet recently went through a major operation. His point to readers is simple and heartfelt — no matter how careful you are, pay close attention to changes in your body, and see a doctor at the first sign something is off. As he recovers, he turns to this gentle “four-spirit” (si shen) soup. The four classic ingredients — yam, lotus seed, poria and euryale — are traditionally used to strengthen the spleen and kidney and support the body’s overall constitution, which is exactly what someone rebuilding their strength wants.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people wanting a gentle, nourishing soup to support the spleen and kidney, including those recovering and rebuilding their constitution.
- Bro Niu cautions that after surgery, patients should avoid scaleless fish and certain freshwater “trigger” fish (such as snakehead). Choose a suitable fresh fish instead. If you are recovering from a serious illness, please follow your doctor’s advice.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chinese yam (huai shan): Traditionally supports the spleen and lung and gently nourishes.
- Lotus seeds (lian zi): Associated with supporting the spleen and calming the mind.
- Poria (fu ling): A classic ingredient for draining dampness and supporting the spleen.
- Euryale seeds (qian shi): Traditionally used to support the spleen and kidney.
- Tangerine peel (chen pi) and red dates (hong zao): Add fragrance, warmth and natural sweetness.
- Fresh fish: Makes the broth sweet and savoury and adds nourishment.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese yam | ~5 qian (~19 g) | Soaked, rinsed |
| Lotus seeds | ~5 qian (~19 g) | Soaked, rinsed |
| Poria | ~5 qian (~19 g) | Soaked, rinsed |
| Euryale seeds | ~5 qian (~19 g) | Soaked, rinsed |
| Dried tangerine peel | 1 piece | |
| Red dates | 5 | Pitted |
| Fresh beef loach fish | ~1 catty (~600 g) | Cleaned |
Method
- Soak and rinse the dried ingredients; pit the red dates.
- Clean the fish well and pan-fry it in a little oil until fragrant.
- Bring 9 bowls of water to a boil, add all ingredients.
- Cook for about 1.5 hours until reduced to 4–5 bowls, then serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Any fresh sea fish makes a sweet, wholesome broth. But after surgery, patients should avoid scaleless fish and “trigger” freshwater fish such as snakehead or spotted bass, which are traditionally thought to be unsuitable during wound healing.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Jojo): My husband is having minimally invasive surgery for prostate cancer. What soups suit him afterwards? Bro Niu: Lycopene is good for the prostate, but it needs to be cooked to be released — so use tomatoes and seaweed to make a soup with fresh fish (up to about 1 catty, pan-fried first; rockfish or sea bass are even better). If there is qi deficiency after surgery, you can simmer pork shin with about 3 qian each of astragalus and codonopsis, 1 liang of yam and 4 dried figs.
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Q (anonymous reader): My child has a persistent day-and-night cough with thick yellow-white phlegm; medicine hasn’t helped. What can I give? Bro Niu: Try 2 teaspoons of chuan bei (fritillaria) powder with 1 cored apple (scrub the skin clean with fine salt and keep it on), sliced into a bowl with a little over half a bowl of water, double-steamed for half an hour. This helps loosen phlegm and ease the cough; take for 3 days. If the phlegm is yellow, use snow pear instead of apple — again cored, but keep the skin.
Published January 12, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
