Traditional Medicinal Chicken Soups: Nourishing Health with Chinese Cuisine

Speaking of zodiac signs, we usually only think about them during Chinese New Year or when asking someone's birthday. Although the New Year has passed, have you ever tried using chicken in medicinal cuisine during the Year of the Rooster? Chinese people have a long history of using chicken for health purposes, such as roast chicken, chicken soup, and medicinal cuisine. 1. Angelica Astragalus Black Chicken Soup This chicken soup is a traditional medicinal cuisine among the Han ethnic group and has dual effects of nourishing blood and Qi. Use one black-bone chicken, 1 Qian of angelica, and 5 Qian of astragalus. After washing them, put them together in a clay pot and simmer over low heat for no more than 2 hours. Astragalus, a medicinal herb with a history of two thousand years, has the effects of replenishing Qi, protecting the liver, anti-aging, and improving immunity. Angelica, a long-standing blood-nourishing herb, has the effects of nourishing and harmonizing blood, regulating menstruation and relieving pain, moisturizing, and promoting bowel movements. Due to the dual blood-nourishing effect of this medicinal cuisine, it is suitable for regulating irregular menstrual periods, scanty menstrual flow, frequent fatigue and shortness of breath, frequent dreams and insomnia, and pale complexion. 2. Goji Date Black Chicken Soup Many people add ingredients such as goji berries and red dates when making chicken soup. On the one hand, it adds flavor, and on the other hand, it enhances the nourishing effect of the chicken soup. Use one black chicken (or half), a handful of goji berries, 10-20 red dates, and 10 longans. Simmer the chicken, ginger, longans, and red dates together, and add the goji berries before consuming. Goji berries have the effects of nourishing the liver, replenishing blood, tonifying the kidneys, improving vision, and enhancing resistance. Red dates add fragrance and can invigorate the spleen and stomach. Longans can promote sleep and replenish Qi and blood. Therefore, this chicken soup is suitable for nourishing blood and beauty, tonifying the liver and kidneys, anti-aging, and can be consumed by the whole family. Especially for women with dry skin and weak body during spring, autumn, and winter, this chicken soup is a good choice. 3. Mushroom and Vegetable Chicken Soup Chicken meat itself contains nucleotides and has a delicious taste. Mushrooms contain glutamic acid, which can make the chicken soup more flavorful. By using both, you can avoid using chicken essence. Use half a hen, cut into pieces and simmer the chicken until it is tender, then add mushrooms, shredded bamboo shoots, and bean sprouts, and cook until they are done. Consuming mushrooms can enhance immunity, supplement vitamin D, and increase dietary fiber. At the same time, it can invigorate the spleen and stomach, nourish the liver, and provide protein and vitamins. 4. Radish Stewed Chicken Soup Use free-range chicken and white radish to stew the soup. Radish can not only relieve greasiness but also aid digestion, moisturize the body, and stop coughing. 5. Medicinal Chicken As one of the excellent dishes, it uses a hen or black-bone chicken, along with Huangjing, Huai yam, and Sand ginseng, to stew the soup. The stewing time should not exceed 1.5 hours. Huangjing is suitable for treating weak spleen and stomach, fatigue, dry mouth, etc. Huai yam has the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys and invigorating the spleen and stomach. Therefore, medicinal chicken is more suitable for people who have just recovered from an illness and have a poor appetite. It has the functions of replenishing deficiency and strengthening the body. The copyright of this article belongs to Sanjiu Health Hall. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.