Soups
Watercress, Dried Duck Gizzard and Carrot Soup
traditionally used to clear lung and stomach heat, relieve dryness, and soothe a sore throat after rich or fried foods
Why people make this soup
After the Lunar New Year — or any period of festive eating — it is easy to overdo the melon seeds, candy, roasted nuts, and fried snacks. The result in Chinese medicine terms is “excess heat”: a dry throat, mouth ulcers, or a nagging feeling of inner dryness. Watercress has long been the go-to vegetable in Cantonese kitchens for exactly this situation. Simmered slowly for two to three hours with dried duck gizzard and carrot, it transforms into a beautifully clear, naturally sweet soup that gently brings things back into balance. It’s the kind of everyday remedy that Cantonese families have kept in their kitchen playbook for generations.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for all ages, including children; good for families after rich festive meals
- Helpful for mild respiratory irritation, itchy skin, and heat-related discomfort
- Post-miscarriage: the soup is considered suitable after simmering for at least two hours, as prolonged cooking reduces the cooling nature of the watercress
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Watercress (xi yang cai): Traditionally regarded as cooling and moistening for the lungs and stomach; associated with clearing heat and reducing fire from the blood without being overly cold.
- Dried duck gizzard (chen ya shen): A preserved, flavourful ingredient used in Cantonese slow soups. Traditionally considered to strengthen the stomach and add a savoury depth; balances the coolness of the watercress.
- Carrot (hong luo bo): Adds gentle sweetness and beta-carotene; mildly nourishing without creating dampness.
- Honey dates (mi zao): Very sweet and moistening; add a pleasant natural sweetness to the soup and are traditionally used to harmonise other flavours.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): Balances the cooling nature of the watercress and supports digestion.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Watercress | ~450 g | Wash and trim |
| Dried duck gizzard | 2 pieces | Soak and rinse before use |
| Carrot | 1 medium | Peel, cut into chunks |
| Fresh ginger | 2 slices | — |
| Honey dates | 2 | — |
| Water | 10 bowls (~2 litres) | — |
Method
- Rinse the dried duck gizzard thoroughly and soak briefly in warm water until softened.
- Wash the watercress well; peel the carrot and cut into chunks.
- Place the duck gizzard, ginger, carrot, and honey dates in a pot with 10 bowls of water.
- Bring to a rolling boil.
- Add the watercress, then reduce to a low simmer.
- Simmer over low heat for about 3 hours.
- Serve the soup and eat the solid ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
This is a clear, refreshing soup with a naturally sweet flavour — suitable for the whole family. For young children with a “heaty” constitution, such as swollen gums, mouth sores, or nosebleeds from eating too many fried foods, this soup is a gentle option. It is also associated with helping mild respiratory irritation and itchy skin. Long, slow simmering (at least two hours) makes the soup more balanced and less cooling overall.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (小紫): Can this soup be drunk after a miscarriage? Bro Niu: Yes, this soup can be drunk after miscarriage. Just make sure to simmer it for two hours or more — the long cooking time reduces the cooling nature of the watercress.
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Q (Connie Chan): My three-year-old has been eating too much fried food and now has swollen, red gums, mouth pain, and nosebleeds. He is recovering after seeing a Chinese doctor. Can I make this soup for him today? Do you have other soups for a child who tends to have excess heart fire? Bro Niu: For heart fire in children, try simmering lotus seeds (with the green core, lian zi xin), lily bulb (bai he), and rush pith (deng xin cao) — about 1 liang each with 6 bundles of rush pith in 5 bowls of water, cooked down to 2 bowls. It clears heart fire and calms the mind, and can be taken as a regular drink with a little rock sugar. You can also make a soup with soy bean sprouts, firm tofu, dried oysters, ginger, and lean pork — very effective for clearing heart and stomach fire; the whole family can drink it.
Published February 27, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
