Soups
Peanut Sprout and Fish Head Soup
Traditionally used to support the body through menopause
Why people make this soup
Nourilo likes to remind everyone that menopause is not only a women’s affair. Men go through it too, usually later and more quietly, so the signs often get overlooked. The good news is that with sensible eating, a cheerful outlook, regular rest and a bit of movement, both women and men can sail through this stage comfortably. This soup is one of Nourilo’s gentle picks for that season of life.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Men and women going through menopause who want a warm, nourishing, easy-to-enjoy soup
- Anyone wanting a comforting family soup; it is mild enough for young and old
- Caution: people with itchy skin problems or unexplained swellings (无名肿毒) are traditionally advised not to take this soup
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Peanut sprouts (hua sheng ya): research is associated with their polyphenols helping balance hormones, which traditionally is said to ease the ups and downs of this stage.
- Bighead carp head (da yu tou): sweet in flavour and warming by nature; traditionally said to support the kidneys, strengthen the sinews and bones, and warm the spleen and stomach — helpful for tiredness, dizziness and waning mental energy.
- Red dates (hong zao) and ginger (sheng jiang): add warmth and a gentle sweetness, traditionally used to support blood and settle the stomach.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut sprouts | 1 box (~115–150 g) | Available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Red dates | 5 | Pitted |
| Bighead carp head | 1 | Cleaned |
Method
- Rinse the peanut sprouts clean. Pit the red dates.
- Clean the fish head, then pan-fry it in a little oil until fragrant.
- Put everything in a pot with 7–8 bowls of water and simmer for 45 minutes until reduced to 3–4 bowls.
- Serve the soup together with the ingredients.
Nourilo’s Tips
This soup is fresh-tasting and suits young and old. But if you have itchy skin or unexplained swellings, give it a miss for now.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader): My mother often feels overly full after meals and her tummy rumbles loudly all day, then she passes a lot of wind. She had her gallbladder removed and has a fatty liver. Can red date, aged tangerine peel and millet congee help? Nourilo: It sounds like spleen-stomach qi weakness with a lot of trapped gas and bloating. The aged tangerine peel, red date and millet congee is good; you can also add about 7 g of sha ren (cardamom), cooked in a tea bag and removed before serving.
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Q (reader): Can mistletoe (sang ji sheng) be taken by the whole family? For 8 people, how much should I use, and can my daughter take it during her period? Nourilo: For 8 people use about 75 g. It has a slightly bitter, astringent taste, so it tastes better in a sweet soup — for example with lotus seeds, red dates and egg. Or pair it with five-finger fig (wu zhi mao tao), Chinese yam, chestnuts and red dates in a pork shin soup; the whole family can enjoy it. It is traditionally used to support the spleen, liver and kidneys and to strengthen the sinews and bones.
Published March 26, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
