Soups
Ginseng, Walnut and Partridge Soup
Traditionally used to warm and support the lungs and kidney and ease wheezy breathing
Why people make this soup
Partridge makes a clean, sweet, completely non-greasy broth — a gentle base that works beautifully in a double-boil. Double-boiled with sun-dried mountain ginseng and walnut, it is traditionally taken to warm and support the lungs and kidney and ease wheezy breathing — which is why it suits those depleted, cold-feeling spells of chronic cough with shortness of breath that worsens on exertion, an aching back and cold limbs.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people who feel depleted and cold with a chronic wheezy cough, an aching lower back, cold limbs, sweating and frequent urination. Partridge is gentle, so it also suits the frail elderly and weak children.
- After taking qi-tonic herbs, avoid white/green radish (it works against them); carrot is fine.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Ginseng (ren shen): a warming qi tonic, traditionally associated with supporting the lungs and overall vitality. Use only one type of “shen” at a time.
- Walnut (he tao rou): traditionally associated with supporting the kidney and easing cough and wheeze.
- Partridge (zhe gu): sweet and warming, traditionally associated with supporting the spleen and lungs and strengthening the constitution.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): warms and harmonizes.
Ingredients (2–3 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sun-dried mountain ginseng | 1–2 roots | Use only one type of “shen” |
| Walnut kernels | ~38 g (1 tael) | |
| Partridge | 1 | Frozen works if fresh is unavailable |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices |
Method
- Clean the partridge and blanch it.
- Rinse the ginseng and walnut and place with the partridge in a double-boiling pot.
- Pour in 4 bowls of boiling water and double-boil (covered, over water) 3 hours. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Partridge is sweet and warming, traditionally associated with supporting the spleen and lungs and strengthening the body — a fine wellness food for the frail elderly and young children. Fresh partridge can be sourced from Chinese poulterers or Asian grocers; if unavailable, frozen partridge works just as well.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (scy): Can dangshen and ren shen be cooked in soup together? If this soup has ren shen, can I also add dangshen, or use only one? Bro Niu: Use only one — either dangshen or ren shen is enough.
-
Q (scy): After eating qi-tonic herbs like ginseng or dangshen, should I avoid radish? Does that include carrot? Bro Niu: After taking qi-tonic herbs, it’s best to avoid white and green radish, but carrot is not in the radish family and doesn’t break qi, so carrot is fine even with qi-moving herbs.
Published September 16, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
