Chinese Wolfberry Pigeon Stew - Chinese Herbal Recipes. In Chinese herbal cooking, Chinese Wolfberry ( gou qizi 枸杞子 ) has been renowned for centuries for its potent tonic and aphrodisiac properties, as well as its sweet flavour. Wolfberry promotes hormone secretions in both men and women, increases strength and stamina, and is a strong yang energy tonic. Wild Yam ( huai shan 淮山 ) further boosts hormone production and also enhances immune response. And since pigeon is one of the most potent of all tonic foods on the Chinese menu, this dish provides a powerful boost to sexual vitality in both men and women, and also serves to balance the entire endocrine system.
4 fresh whole pigeons
1¼ litres (5 cups) water
15 gm Chinese Wolfberry ( gou qizi 枸杞子 ), rinsed
20 slices Wild Yam ( huai shan 淮山 ), rinsed
2 tablespoons Chinese Shao Xing wine
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1. Wash and clean the pigeons, then quarter each. Bring a pot of water to a boil, drop the pigeon into the boiling water and briefly poach for a few
seconds. Quickly remove them from the pan and set aside on a platter.
2. In a stockpot, bring the water and herbs to a boil. Add the pigeon and wine, and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid and simmer
for 2 hours. Remove from the heat, season with the salt and serve immediately in individual serving bowls.
Note:- If pigeons are not available, this dish may be prepared with small free-range chickens, or tuji (literally "earth chickens") in Chinese.
Unless the chickens are truly free range, which means they are free to feed on herbs, foliage, worms and insects, they will not have the desired tonic
properties.