Chuanxiong and Dahurian angelica fish-head soup with stir-fried spinach
Bighead carp head pan-fried, then boiled into a milky broth with chuanxiong and Dahurian angelica, served with garlicky spinach — warming, circulation-boosting comfort.
- 1 hr 5 min
- Serves 3
- Simmer
- Easy
Why it suits you: Blood-stasis types have sluggish circulation and are prone to headaches, period pain and a dull complexion, and Major Heat's constant switching between scorching streets and chilly air conditioning easily sets off headaches. Chuanxiong moves blood and qi and eases pain, angelica root dispels wind and stops pain, fish head nourishes and spinach builds blood. A warm bowl keeps things flowing and clears the head.
Method
Prep 10 min · Cook 55 min- 1Rinse and pat dry the fish head and rub with a little salt. Rinse the chuanxiong and angelica root.
- 2Heat half the oil and fry the ginger and fish head over a medium heat until golden on both sides.
- 3Pour in the boiling water and boil hard for 10 minutes until milky. Transfer to a soup pot, add the herbs and red dates and simmer gently for 40 minutes. Season with salt.
- 4Wash the spinach, cut into lengths and blanch for 30 seconds to remove oxalic acid; drain. Fry the garlic in the remaining oil, stir-fry the spinach quickly and season with salt.
Cautions
- Chuanxiong moves blood, so avoid it if pregnant, with heavy periods or on blood-thinning medicine; go easy if you run hot and dry.
Chef's tips
- Fry the fish head before adding boiling water for a milky, non-fishy broth; buy the herbs from a herbal shop and don't add more, or the soup turns bitter.
The TCM view
Chuanxiong is pungent and warm, moving blood and qi, dispelling wind and easing pain — called 'the qi medicine within the blood' and a classic for headaches. Dahurian angelica is pungent and warm, dispelling wind and unblocking the sinuses; bighead carp is sweet and warm, warming the stomach; spinach is sweet and cool, nourishing blood and tempering the herbs' warmth. Warming without drying, it frees the vessels for blood stasis.
