Chinese Yam, Euryale Seed and Pork Stomach Soup

Why people make this soup

Euryale seeds — sometimes called Gordon seeds or fox nuts — have been used in Chinese kitchens for centuries. Their common nickname is “water ginseng” (水中人参), which gives you a sense of how highly regarded they are in Cantonese food-therapy. This soup pairs euryale with Chinese yam and pork stomach to make something that is both deeply satisfying to eat and genuinely supportive of digestive comfort. It is one of those recipes that has been passed down precisely because it works: people who deal with recurring loose stools, a delicate stomach, or that feeling of eating and never quite feeling nourished tend to find it helpful over time.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Well suited to people who experience loose stools, frequent trips to the bathroom, or a generally weak and easily upset stomach
• Also traditionally recommended for women with excessive vaginal discharge accompanied by lower-back aching, and for men with nocturnal emission
• People who are already constipated or who have dry, difficult-to-pass stools should avoid this soup — the astringent nature of euryale and yam can tighten things further

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Chinese yam (huai shan): A gentle, nourishing ingredient that is traditionally associated with supporting the spleen and stomach, aiding digestion, and helping the body absorb nutrients more effectively.
• Euryale seeds (qian shi): Described in classical texts as tonifying the middle, firming essence, and draining dampness. Practically speaking, they have a mild astringent effect that is helpful for loose stools, frequent urination, and related discomfort.
• Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Warms and moves qi in the digestive tract, preventing the heavier ingredients from feeling stagnant or bloating.
• Red dates (hong zao): Add a natural sweetness and are traditionally considered nourishing to the blood and calming to the spirit.
• Pork stomach (zhu du): In Cantonese food-therapy, like-nourishes-like thinking links pork stomach to the human stomach. It is also rich in protein and collagen.

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried Chinese yam	37 g (1 liang)	Rinse and soak briefly
Euryale seeds	37 g (1 liang)	Rinse and soak briefly
Dried tangerine peel	2 pieces	Rinse and soak briefly
Red dates	5 pieces	Pit them
Pork stomach	1 (about 500 g)	Scrub thoroughly (see tips)
Lean pork	about 225 g	Cut into thick slices, blanch
Water	9 bowls	About 2.2 litres

Method

1. Rinse and briefly soak the Chinese yam, euryale seeds, and tangerine peel separately.
2. Pit the red dates.
3. Clean the pork stomach thoroughly: turn it inside out and rub all surfaces vigorously with coarse salt and cornstarch, then rinse well. Repeat two to three times until there is no off-smell. Blanch with the sliced lean pork, drain, and rinse off any foam.
4. Place all ingredients in a pot with 9 bowls of water. Bring to a full boil, then reduce to a medium-low simmer.
5. Cook for about 2 hours until the liquid reduces to roughly 4 bowls.
6. Serve the soup and the solid ingredients together — everything is good to eat.

Bro Niu’s tips

The key to a pork stomach that is odour-free and pleasant to eat is thorough cleaning: scrub it inside and out with coarse salt and cornstarch, rinse well, and repeat. Only then should you blanch it. If you want to enhance the spleen-supporting effect, add a small handful of lotus seeds (lian zi) along with the other ingredients — they pair beautifully with both yam and euryale.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Xiao Mei): My family member has diabetes with protein in the urine. Is there any soup or food-therapy approach that could help? Bro Niu: Diabetes itself cannot be cured, but careful diet management can reduce the risk of complications. For protein in the urine, focus on eating more vegetables and less meat — ideally a mostly plant-based diet. As a gentle supportive measure, try simmering 37 g raw coix seeds with 75 g fresh corn silk in water for about 40 minutes, two to three times a week, until symptoms ease. Please continue with your prescribed medication and see your doctor regularly.

• Q (Xiao Mei): Can dried corn silk be used instead of fresh? Can healthy people drink it too? Bro Niu: Dried corn silk works fine. Healthy people can also enjoy it — it has a mild diuretic effect and is traditionally associated with supporting blood-sugar balance.

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Published June 18, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.