Soups
Maitake, Lion's Mane Mushroom and Cordyceps Flower Chicken Soup
Traditionally associated with supporting immunity and the body against the three highs
Why people make this soup
Nourilo had a little maitake left over from a relative’s gift, and maitake makes a wonderfully savory pot. Combined with lion’s mane mushroom and cordyceps flower in a chicken soup, it is traditionally enjoyed to support the body’s defenses, aid digestion and help maintain healthy blood pressure and cholesterol. It’s a comforting, restorative soup for when you feel run-down and want to build yourself back up.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits young and old; traditionally valued by those with weak digestion, low energy, and (per the source) by pregnant women needing gentle nourishment
- Those minding the three highs: swap the free-range chicken for lean pork (as Nourilo advises) for a lighter pot
- Not suitable while you have a cold with fever
- People with mushroom allergy should go easy
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Maitake (wu rong): prized mushroom traditionally associated with supporting immunity
- Lion’s mane (hou tou gu): traditionally valued for supporting the stomach and digestion
- Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua): traditionally associated with supporting vitality and the body’s reserves
- Carrot, red dates, ginger: round out the soup and add gentle sweetness and warmth
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maitake mushroom (wu rong) | 2 clusters | Soaked and rinsed |
| Lion’s mane mushroom (hou tou gu) | 2 | Soaked and rinsed |
| Cordyceps flower (chong cao hua) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Carrot (hong luo bo) | 1 | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 5 | Pitted |
| Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) | 3 slices | |
| Free-range chicken (zou di ji) | half a bird | Chopped, blanched; or lean pork |
Method
- Soak and rinse the maitake, lion’s mane and cordyceps flower separately.
- Peel the carrot and cut into chunks; pit the red dates.
- Chop the chicken into large pieces and blanch.
- Put everything in a pot with 8 bowls of water and simmer about 1.5 hours down to 4 bowls; serve the soup with the ingredients.
Nourilo’s Tips
This soup is fragrant and gentle, suiting young and old. For those minding the three highs, use lean pork instead of free-range chicken to keep it lighter. Skip it while you have a cold with fever.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Christine): Can I use other mushrooms like agaricus or morel — same effect? Can pregnant women drink it? Nourilo: Morel supports the stomach and digestion and can replace agaricus; pregnant women can use it, but those allergic to mushrooms should go easy.
-
Q (zmq): I have higher blood pressure and somewhat high blood lipids — can I have this soup? Nourilo: For this soup, skip the free-range chicken and use lean pork instead — it’s friendlier for the three highs.
-
Q (May): I developed hemorrhoids after pregnancy with occasional bleeding — any soups that help? Nourilo: You can steep a tablespoon of pagoda-tree flower (huai hua mi) in a tea bag as a tea; traditionally used to help with hemorrhoid bleeding. Day to day, a tablespoon of huai hua with ~38 g black beans and ~38 g dried mussel simmered in lean-pork soup is enjoyed to help guard against flare-ups.
Published August 21, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
