Nourishing Fish Stew

Herbs and foods may be taken to nourish the Qi and Blood, support uterine health and help women regain health and vitality. Below is a simple soup that is commonly given to women in China after childbirth but can be eaten anytime as a nourishing tonic. Eat 1 cup daily for 1 month.
2 large white fish fillet, (cod, sole, flounder, snapper etc)

6 cups fish stock, see recipe below (use less if you add coconut milk)
2 cans full fat coconut milk
4T white miso paste (optional)
4 green onions chopped
4 carrots sliced
3 baby bok choy chopped into 1/2 pieces
Fresh Ginger root- (good quality should be firm) 5 slices (remove before eating,) browned on both sides
Chinese rice wine 1 cup (can substitute any white wine you like)
4 T toasted sesame oil
Salt to taste
Optional Soup Herbs Available at our Clinic: Shan Yao (Chinese Yam root) 30 g, Huang Qi (Astragalus) 30 g, Gou Qi Zi (Lycii Berries) 10 g, Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica) 10 g (boil in broth for 20 min, remove before eating.) These can also just be taken as a tea and not added to soup. They will have a strong herby taste.

Saute ginger and carrots until ginger is brown. Heat broth (pick one from below) until boiling and then reduce to a simmer. Add coconut milk, rice wine (if you are using) and fish. Cook for 5 min. Add bok choy and miso (if you are using). Stir until miso is dissolved. Shut heat off and cover for 2 min. Add salt and sesame oil and serve.
Fish Stock
6 quarts of filtered water
1 lb of fish heads and bones (fish heads alone will suffice)*
1/8 cup raw, organic apple cider vinegar
Himalayan or Celtic sea salt to taste
*Do not use oily fish such as salmon for fish stock or you will stink up the whole house!   Only use non-oily fish such as sole, turbot, rockfish or snapper.
 

Quick and Easy Fish Stock with Bonito Flakes- though low in protein this broth is high in selenium and B vitamins.

Bring 6 cups of filtered water to a boil.

Remove pan from heat and add 1 cup bonito flakes
Cover and allow the bonito flakes to sink to the bottom of the pot.  This will take a few minutes.
Strain out the bonito flakes and discard.
Add 4 TBL of miso paste (omit if adding to Replenishing Fish Soup)
The broth has a smoky, hearty flavor similar to that of beef stock.
Drink bonito broth by itself, mix with miso or use as a base for seafood gumbo, clam chowder or other similar soups.
You can find the dried flakes at health food stores, Asian groceries, and online.
Simmer on low for 20 min.
(Both broth recipes are from the www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com. More information about fish broth and sourcing products available here.)
Lindsey Lawson MS EAMP is an Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Clinic Director at Glow Natural Health and Seattle Fertility Acupuncture. She is passionate about healthy, happy living and a regular blogger. For an appointment call Glow at 206 568 7545.