Soups
Spaghetti Squash Fresh Abalone Soup (Yu Chi Gua Xian Bao Yu Tang)
Traditionally clears the liver, brightens the eyes, and supports healthy blood sugar
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu is a fan of squash: the nutrition runs all through it, from skin to flesh to seeds. Spaghetti squash (yu chi gua, “shark-fin gourd”) is a low-sweetness, low-starch variety — its white flesh pulls apart into shimmering strands a bit like shark’s fin, which is how it got the name. Squash contains trace cobalt, traditionally associated with supporting healthy blood sugar, and it is low in calories, making it a friendly choice for those watching their sugar. Simmered with corn, carrot, scallop and fresh baby abalone, the soup nourishes gently — neither too cooling nor too warming — and is well suited to people watching blood sugar or feeling dry and overheated (yin-deficient).
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People watching their blood sugar, and those who feel dry and overheated (yin-deficient with rising fire).
- Anyone working long hours at a screen with tired eyes.
- Sweet and pleasant, suitable for young and old.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Spaghetti squash (yu chi gua): Low in sweetness and starch; traditionally associated with supporting healthy blood sugar, and gently nourishing.
- Corn and carrot: Add natural sweetness and a clean, fragrant body to the soup.
- Dried scallop (yao zhu): Adds savoury depth and nourishment.
- Fresh abalone with shell: The shell (shi jue ming) is traditionally associated with clearing heat, brightening the eyes, and easing dizziness from rising liver-yang.
- Ginger: Warms and balances the soup.
Ingredients (5–6 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spaghetti squash | 1 whole | Skin on, deseeded, chunked |
| Corn | 1 cob | Husked, chunked |
| Carrot | 1 | Peeled, chunked |
| Dried scallops | 3–4 | Soaked |
| Fresh baby abalone | 6 | Cleaned, shells scrubbed, blanched |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices |
Method
- Rinse the squash (skin on), deseed and cut into chunks. Husk and chop the corn; peel and chunk the carrot.
- Soak and rinse the scallops. Clean the fresh abalone, scrub the shells clean, and blanch.
- Simmer all ingredients in about 9 cups of water for 2 hours, until reduced to 5–6 bowls. Eat the soup and ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
Fresh baby abalone is available at fishmongers and Asian seafood counters; ask to have them cleaned if needed, and simmer with the shell. The abalone shell, known as shi jue ming, is traditionally associated with clearing heat, brightening the eyes, and easing dizziness from rising liver-yang. This soup is sweet and pleasant for all ages, and is especially welcome for people who work long hours at a screen with tired eyes.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Jessie): I bought spaghetti squash but the skin has gone soft from sitting — can I still use it? Bro Niu: If the flesh is not spoiled, you can still use it; but it is best to finish fresh produce promptly so it does not go off and harm your health.
Published June 17, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
