Soups
Sea Cucumber and Silky Fowl Soup
Sea Cucumber and Silky Fowl Soup is a classic nourishing medicinal soup, hailed as the "golden nourishing combination for autumn and winter". Sea cucumber ranks first among the "Eight Treasures of the Sea" – the Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica records that it "has a sweet and salty taste, tonifies the kidneys, enriches essence, strengthens yang, and treats impotence, with warming properties that rival ginseng". Silky fowl is neutral in nature and sweet in taste, rich in amino acids and iron, known for nourishing the liver and kidneys, nourishing blood and benefiting essence. Together, they provide a double dose of marine and animal protein, complemented by red dates and goji berries, slowly simmered to perfection. The finished soup is clear, with tender chicken that falls off the bone and soft, chewy sea cucumber, offering a rich and savory flavor. This soup is renowned for tonifying the kidneys, enriching essence, nourishing yin, moistening dryness, replenishing blood, nourishing qi, and boosting immunity.
Main Ingredients
- Dried sea cucumber 2-3 pieces
- Silky fowl (black-boned chicken) half
- Red dates 5-6 pieces
- Goji berries 10g
- Fresh ginger 3-5 slices
- Astragalus root (Huangqi) 10g
- Codonopsis root (Dangshen) 2 roots
- Chinese yam 50g
- Fish maw 2 pieces
- Salt to taste
- Cooking wine a little
Steps
Soak: Place dried sea cucumbers in a clean, oil-free container with enough purified water. Refrigerate for 24-48 hours, changing the water every 8 hours, until softened. Clean: Cut open the sea cucumber along the belly, remove the sand mouth and internal tendons (tendons can be kept – they are nutritious). Rinse out any impurities. Boil: Place cleaned sea cucumbers in an oil-free pot with purified water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let cool naturally with the lid on. Second soak: Place the cooked sea cucumbers in a clean, oil-free container with cold purified water. Seal and refrigerate for another 48-72 hours, changing the water daily. Properly rehydrated sea cucumbers should be soft and springy.
Silky fowl: Wash and cut into pieces. Place in cold water with ginger slices and a little cooking wine, bring to a boil, and blanch for 2 minutes. Skim off foam, remove, and rinse with warm water. Other ingredients: Wash and pit the red dates; rinse the goji berries; slice the ginger; peel and slice the Chinese yam (if using); rinse the astragalus and codonopsis (if using).
Place the blanched silky fowl in a clay pot or stewing pot with ginger slices, astragalus, codonopsis (if using), and enough water (about 1500-2000ml). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1.5 hours.
Add goji berries 5 minutes before turning off the heat. Season with salt to taste before serving. (Note: Add salt at the very end – adding it too early will cause the sea cucumber to shrink.)
Add goji berries 5 minutes before turning off the heat. Season with salt to taste before serving. (Note: Add salt at the very end – adding it too early will cause the sea cucumber to shrink.)
TCM Notes
Sea cucumber: Rich in high-quality protein, sea cucumber polysaccharides, saponins, arginine, and various trace elements. Arginine helps tonify the kidneys, enrich essence, and nourish blood; sea cucumber polysaccharides enhance macrophage activity and boost immunity; collagen and mucopolysaccharides improve skin elasticity and delay aging. Sea cucumber also contains abundant iodine, which supports intellectual development. Silky fowl: Rich in high-quality protein, amino acids, iron, zinc, selenium, and B vitamins. Iron helps prevent iron-deficiency anemia; zinc is crucial for male reproductive health; vitamin E inhibits free radicals and delays cellular aging; B vitamins help soothe nerves and improve insomnia. Red dates and goji berries: Red dates are rich in polysaccharides and iron, benefiting blood and qi; goji berries are rich in vitamin A and carotene, benefiting vision and liver health. Together, they achieve the synergistic effects of tonifying the kidneys, enriching essence, nourishing yin, moistening dryness, replenishing blood, nourishing qi, boosting immunity, and delaying aging.
Suitable for：Those needing nourishment during autumn and winter Those with weak constitution, post-illness recovery, or neurasthenia Women with menstrual anemia or postpartum weakness Those with kidney essence deficiency – sore lower back, fatigue, and weakness Men with high work pressure and irregular routines (as adjunctive health support) Patients in the later stages of lung disease Women seeking beauty, skin nourishment, and anti-aging benefits
Not suitable for：During colds or fever – should avoid Those allergic to seafood – strictly avoid Those with gout or hyperuricemia – should avoid (sea cucumber is high in purines) Those with renal insufficiency – should avoid (excess protein burdens the kidneys) Those with acute gastroenteritis or severe diarrhea – should avoid Those with poor digestion or weak spleen and stomach – consume in small amounts Pregnant women – depends on constitution; consult a TCM practitioner Those with hypertension – consume under medical guidance Children under 3 years old – should avoid (digestive system not fully developed) Those taking anticoagulant medications (e.g., warfarin) – consult a doctor
