Red Date and Yam Stewed Chicken Soup is a nourishing soup that warms the stomach and boosts Qi, making it an excellent choice for women’s health! On a cold winter day, a bowl of steaming Red Date and Yam Stewed Chicken Soup not only warms the body and mind but is also a perfect choice for women seeking nourishment! This soup combines the blood-nourishing properties of red dates (Hong Zao), the spleen-strengthening benefits of yam (Shan Yao), and the Qi-boosting qualities of chicken (Ji) into a delicious and nutritious dish that excels in nourishing the stomach, boosting Qi, and regulating blood flow. Carefully stewed over low heat, let us explore this nourishing soup designed specifically for women!
Ingredients Preparation: Main Ingredients: Half a Three-Yellow Chicken (approximately 500 grams, preferably free-range) 300 grams of Yam (about half a root) 10-12 Red Dates (large dates, pitted) Auxiliary Ingredients: 5-6 slices of Ginger 1 teaspoon of Goji Berries 10 grams of Codonopsis (Dang Shen) (optional, enhances Qi-boosting effect) 10 grams of Astragalus (Huang Qi) (optional, enhances Qi-boosting effect) 2-3 sections of Green Onion 1 tablespoon of Cooking Wine 1/2 teaspoon of Salt (adjust to personal taste) Nutritional Value Unveiled: Red dates are known as “natural vitamin pills,” rich in vitamin C, iron, and various amino acids, with significant effects in nourishing blood and enhancing beauty, as well as strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach. Yam is referred to as the “food of immortals,” containing rich mucoproteins, amylase, and various minerals, which help strengthen the spleen and stomach, benefit the lungs and kidneys, and solidify essence. Chicken is warm in nature and sweet in flavor, rich in high-quality protein and various amino acids, making it an excellent ingredient for boosting Qi and nourishing blood. The combination of these three ingredients creates a comprehensive nourishing effect—red dates nourish blood and calm the heart, yam strengthens the spleen and boosts Qi, and chicken provides warmth without being overly drying, together forming a nutritious soup particularly suitable for women to regulate blood and Qi and enhance physical constitution. The greatest value of this soup lies in its “balanced nourishment”—it both boosts Qi and nourishes blood, nourishes Yin and warms Yang, making it especially suitable for women with both Qi and blood deficiency, as well as those with weak spleens and stomachs.
Preparation Steps: 1. Pre-processing Ingredients: Chicken Preparation: Clean the Three-Yellow Chicken, cut it into large pieces suitable for stewing, and blanch it to remove blood and impurities. The specific method is: add enough water to a pot, place the chicken pieces in, add 1 tablespoon of cooking wine and a few slices of ginger, bring to a boil over high heat, and cook for 1-2 minutes until blood foam rises. Remove the chicken pieces and rinse them clean with water. Yam Preparation: Peel the yam (it is recommended to wear gloves to avoid skin irritation from yam juice), and cut it into approximately 2 cm thick chunks. After cutting, soak them in clean water to prevent oxidation and browning. Red Date Preparation: Clean the red dates, gently crush them with the back of a knife to release their aroma and nutrients. If using dates with pits, make a small incision to remove the pits. Chinese Herbal Preparation: If using Codonopsis, Astragalus, or other herbs, rinse them clean with water and wrap them in cheesecloth for easy removal later. 2. Stewing Process: Prepare a clay pot or stew pot, add an appropriate amount of clean water (about 1.5-2 liters, enough to cover all ingredients). Add the blanched chicken pieces, ginger slices, green onion sections, and the herbal bag (if using). Bring to a boil over high heat, skim off the foam, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 40 minutes until the chicken is tender. Add the yam chunks and red dates, continue to simmer on low heat for about 30 minutes until the yam is soft but not mushy, and the red dates are fully softened to release their aroma. Add goji berries in the last 10 minutes to maintain their color and nutrients. Season with salt to taste according to personal preference. Tip: Salt should be added at the last moment to preserve the freshness of the ingredients. Skim off excess oil before turning off the heat to make the soup lighter and healthier.
Product Appreciation: A perfect Red Date and Yam Stewed Chicken Soup should have a clear amber color, with soft but not mushy ingredients. The yam should appear semi-transparent and milky white, the red dates should be plump and red, the chicken should be golden and tender, and the goji berries should be like red rubies sprinkled throughout. The entire soup should have a harmonious color, providing both visual beauty and a rich nourishing essence.
When tasting, one first experiences the deliciousness of the chicken soup and the sweet aroma of the red dates, followed by the softness of the yam and the tenderness of the chicken, with various flavors intertwining and merging in the mouth, creating a rich and balanced taste experience. The soup is thick but not greasy, fragrant but not overpowering, warm but not hot, and each sip conveys the sincerity of the carefully simmered ingredients. The greatest charm of this soup lies in its “layered taste”—the initial taste is the freshness of the chicken soup, followed by the sweetness of the red dates, and then the dense richness of the yam, with three flavors intertwining and a long-lasting aftertaste.
Consumption Suggestions: Red Date and Yam Stewed Chicken Soup is best enjoyed hot for optimal nourishing effects. It can be served as a soup for a main meal or as a nourishing snack in the afternoon or evening. Depending on different needs, the following consumption suggestions can be made: Daily Health: Consume 1-2 times a week; consistent consumption can yield noticeable effects. Menstrual Regulation: Consume once before and after menstruation to help alleviate discomfort and replenish lost blood and Qi. Postpartum Recovery: Consume 2-3 times a week to help restore blood and energy. Seasonal Transition: Increase consumption frequency during the spring and autumn transitions and variable weather to enhance resistance.
Health Tips: This Red Date and Yam Stewed Chicken Soup is particularly suitable for the following groups: Women with Qi and blood deficiency: to improve pale complexion and fatigue symptoms. Those with weak spleens and stomachs: yam and red dates gently strengthen the spleen and are easy to digest and absorb. Women during menstruation or postpartum: to replenish lost blood and regulate constitution. Those with long-term fatigue or low immunity: to enhance physical constitution and improve resistance. Special Reminder: Those with Yin deficiency and excess heat should reduce consumption frequency; diabetic patients should control the amount of red dates and yam; patients with high uric acid or gout should limit chicken skin and concentrated chicken soup.
Health Origins: In TCM theory, women are based on “blood,” and this soup perfectly adheres to the principle of “simultaneous nourishment of Qi and blood.” Red dates are warm in nature and sweet in flavor, entering the spleen and stomach meridians, with effects of “tonifying the middle and benefiting Qi, nourishing blood and calming the spirit”; yam is neutral and sweet, entering the spleen, lung, and kidney meridians, with functions of “strengthening the spleen and benefiting the stomach, nourishing the lungs and solidifying the kidneys”; chicken is warm and sweet, entering the spleen and stomach meridians, capable of “tonifying the middle and benefiting Qi, warming the stomach and strengthening the spleen.” The combination of these three creates a truly nourishing soup for women’s Qi and blood. Especially in cold seasons or during variable weather, this warm yet not overly hot, nourishing yet not greasy soup is an ideal choice for helping women regulate their bodies and enhance their resistance.
Red Date and Yam Stewed Chicken Soup embodies the essence of traditional Chinese dietary therapy, reflecting the wisdom of “food and medicine being of the same source” in health preservation. It reminds us that health relies not only on medicine but also on seeking balance and nourishment from daily diet. In the busy modern life, women often bear the dual pressure of work and family, making it even more necessary to have such a nutritious, delicious, and easy-to-make nourishing soup to regulate their bodies and enhance their physical constitution. Next time you feel fatigued or want to prepare a nourishing soup for yourself and your family, consider trying this Red Date and Yam Stewed Chicken Soup, allowing its warmth and nourishment to flow through your body, providing a solid guarantee for your health and beauty!