Soups
Chinese Yam, Euryale, Poria and Quail Soup
Traditionally used to support a weak spleen and gentle nourishment in children
Why people make this soup
Some children have a weak spleen with poor digestion and absorption, so they look sallow and thin, tire easily and just won’t gain weight — which understandably worries parents. Bro Niu’s everyday approach is gentle, nourishing food therapy that builds up without being greasy or drying — yam, euryale, poria, hyacinth bean, lotus seed and the like, simmered with some meat. Quail is nicknamed the “ginseng of animals”: it is traditionally said to nourish the five organs gently, neither drying nor cloying, making it well suited to children with a weak spleen.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suited to children with a weak spleen, poor appetite, sallow complexion and slow weight gain; also helpful for anyone weak after illness — the whole family can have it.
- Babies and toddlers can have about half a bowl; once a week is fine as a tonic.
- If a child eats a lot but still can’t gain weight, or refuses food and vomits, see a doctor to rule out other causes before relying on food therapy.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chinese yam (huai shan): Traditionally used to strengthen the spleen and support digestion.
- Euryale (qian shi): Associated with strengthening the spleen and consolidating.
- Poria (fu ling): Traditionally used to strengthen the spleen and support healthy fluid balance.
- Quail (an chun): Gently nourishing of the five organs, neither drying nor greasy.
Ingredients (about 2.5 bowls, one day’s serving)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese yam (huai shan) | ~19 g | |
| Euryale (qian shi) | ~19 g | |
| Poria (fu ling) | ~19 g | Also called wan ling |
| White hyacinth bean | ~19 g | Ordinary hyacinth bean is fine |
| Red dates | 6 | |
| Quail, frozen | 1 | Cleaned |
Method
- Clean the quail and blanch to remove scum.
- Rinse and soak the remaining ingredients.
- Combine everything in a pot with 6 bowls of water and simmer about 2 hours down to roughly 2.5 bowls — one day’s serving. Best to drink the soup and eat the solids.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup also suits people who are weak after illness, and the whole family can have it. As a regular household wellness soup, you can double the ingredients. Frozen quail is sold at larger supermarkets.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (敏): Can I swap the quail for partridge? Same effect? Bro Niu: Partridge both helps clear phlegm and nourishes the five organs; quail nourishes the five organs and strengthens the constitution. Both birds are good.
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Q (Phoebe): My son is 2 years 8 months, always near the bottom of the growth chart, looks very thin. He’s lively and eats, sometimes a lot, but doesn’t gain. Is this bean-and-poria soup suitable? Bro Niu: This soup is suitable. You can also often make the “four-spirits” pork-rib soup to help his absorption.
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Q (苏儿): Can this yam-euryale-quail soup be made as a double-boiled (steamed) soup? Adjust the amounts? Bro Niu: Yes, it can be double-boiled. For three servings there’s no need to reduce the ingredients. Soak the yam and euryale in clean water for an hour first; two hours of double-boiling is enough.
Published December 13, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
