Soups
Kudzu Root and Fish Head Soup
Traditionally used to ease muscle aches and relieve tension from cold and desk work
Why people make this soup
Sit at a desk all day, eyes on a screen, with the air conditioning blasting — and stiff, achy neck and shoulders and tight muscles soon follow. Many offices keep the AC running hard, and it doesn’t take much to catch a chill. In the traditional view, kudzu root (fen ge) helps relax tight, sore muscles and “release the exterior” through a light sweat. Paired with a flavourful bighead carp head — tasty and traditionally said to steady the head and nourish the brain — it makes a comforting pot for desk workers.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Desk workers with cold-and-tension neck and shoulder stiffness.
- Tasty and gentle — the source says young and old can drink it.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Kudzu root (fen ge): Traditionally relaxes tight, sore muscles, promotes a light sweat to release the exterior, generates fluids to quench thirst, and is associated with helping blood sugar and blood lipids.
- Bighead carp head (da yu tou): Rich and savoury; contains lecithin and unsaturated fats that fish flesh lacks, traditionally regarded as good for those who use their brains a lot.
- Black dates, ginger, lean pork: Warm and round out the broth.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kudzu root (fen ge) | ~450 g | Peeled, washed, cut into chunks |
| Bighead carp head | 1 | Cleaned, pan-fried |
| Black dates (nan zao) | 4 | Rinsed |
| Lean pork | ~300 g | Sliced, blanched |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices |
Method
- Peel and wash the kudzu root and cut into chunks; clean the fish head and pan-fry in a little oil until fragrant; slice and blanch the pork; rinse the black dates.
- In 8 bowls of water, simmer everything except the fish head for 1.5 hours.
- Add the fish head and simmer another 20 minutes. Eat the soup and ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is tasty and suitable for young and old. Don’t overcook the fish head, or it falls apart — scoop it out to eat, since that is the part traditionally seen as most nourishing for the brain.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Christine): Can I use dried kudzu (ge gan) instead of fresh kudzu root? How much? Bro Niu: If you use dried kudzu, use at least about 110 g.
Published September 7, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
