Chinese Medicinal Turtle Soup (甲鱼汤)
Turtle Recipe
1Setup & Prepare
About This Recipe
Traditional Chinese medicinal soup with softshell turtle, goji berries, red dates, and ginger—crystal-clear tonic broth.
Cultural Context
(145 words) In Traditional Chinese Medicine, turtle soup (especially using softshell turtle) is considered a powerful tonic that nourishes yin energy, strengthens the kidneys, and improves skin health through abundant collagen. This soup has been prepared for millennia, often reserved for special occasions, postpartum recovery, or winter wellness. The gelatinous quality of turtle meat and the collagen-rich skin are believed to improve complexion and vitality. Unlike Western turtle soups, Chinese medicinal soup emphasizes clarity, delicate flavors, and therapeutic properties. The broth should be crystal-clear despite hours of simmering, achieved through careful skimming and gentle heat. Medicinal ingredients like goji berries, red dates, and ginger enhance both flavor and health benefits. This preparation represents Chinese culinary-medicinal philosophy where food is medicine. It's nourishment for body and spirit.
2Ingredients
Shopping List
3Cooking Instructions
- Blanch turtle pieces in boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water, scrubbing to remove any impurities. This step is crucial for clear broth.
- Place blanched turtle in large pot with 10 cups water, sliced ginger, scallions, and rice wine. Bring to boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, immediately reduce to bare simmer—the surface should barely ripple. Skim foam meticulously for first 20 minutes. This creates the crystal-clear broth.
- Add goji berries, red dates, shiitake mushrooms, and optional medicinal ingredients. Continue simmering very gently for 2-3 hours until turtle is extremely tender and broth is rich and aromatic.
- Remove turtle pieces. When cool enough to handle, pick meat from bones if desired, or serve pieces whole in traditional style.
- Strain broth through fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth, discarding aromatics but reserving goji berries, dates, and mushrooms.
- Return clear broth to pot with turtle meat, berries, dates, and mushrooms. Season with salt and white pepper to taste. The soup should be delicate and balanced, not overly salty.
- Serve hot in bowls, garnished with fresh julienned ginger. The broth should be clear enough to see through.
4Chef's Notes & Pairings
Chef's Notes
- Blanching and meticulous skimming are essential for crystal-clear broth characteristic of Chinese medicinal soups.
- The soup should simmer so gently it barely moves—boiling creates cloudy broth.
- When cold, the broth will gel due to abundant collagen—reheat gently to liquefy.
- Softshell turtle is traditional but snapping turtle works well too.
- The gelatinous skin and underbelly meat are especially prized for collagen content.
Wine Pairing
Warm Rice Wine or Green Tea – Serve with warm Chinese rice wine (huangjiu) or delicate green tea for authentic pairing.
Nutrition Facts
(per serving) Calories: 245 | Protein: 32g | Fat: 8g | Carbohydrates: 12g | Collagen: High
