Introduction: In July, eat a melon, no need for Chinese medicine: eat more winter melon after the beginning of midsummer, remove dampness, detoxify, and reduce swelling!
In the hot summer, as the temperature gradually rises, people often feel intolerable heat and are prone to problems such as heavy dampness and edema. At this time, an ancient saying “In July, eat a melon, no need for Chinese medicine” is particularly appropriate. Here, “a melon” refers to winter melon.
Winter melon, with its unique cooling nature and rich nutritional components, has become an indispensable ingredient in summer. I will detail the various benefits of winter melon and provide a few simple and easy-to-learn winter melon recipes to help everyone enjoy delicious food while removing dampness, detoxifying, and reducing swelling.
Benefits of Winter Melon
1. Clears heat and relieves summer heat
Winter melon has a slightly cold nature and a mild taste, clearing heat and detoxifying. In the hot summer, consuming winter melon in moderation can lower body temperature, alleviate dry heat, and is a natural remedy for relieving summer heat.
2. Diuretic and reduces swelling
Winter melon is rich in water and various minerals, especially potassium, which helps promote the metabolism of body fluids, aiding in the elimination of excess water and toxins, thereby reducing edema. In addition, the dietary fiber in winter melon can promote intestinal peristalsis, improving constipation.
3. Removes dampness and detoxifies
Summer is a season of heavy dampness, and winter melon’s cold nature neutralizes internal dampness, helping to eliminate internal dampness. Meanwhile, the vitamin C and various antioxidants in winter melon clear free radicals in the body, enhance immunity, detoxify, and beautify. Winter melon is not only rich in water content but also in vitamin C, vitamin B1, and various minerals. These nutrients are all very beneficial!
Winter Melon Recipes
1. Winter Melon Meat Buns
Ingredients: 500g medium gluten flour, 3g yeast, 10g granulated sugar, 500g winter melon, 500g pork belly, salt, soybean paste, sweet bean sauce, light soy sauce, thirteen-spice, minced ginger, minced scallions, ground pepper, and cooking oil.
Instructions:
Mix medium gluten flour, yeast, and granulated sugar evenly, add 250ml water to form a dough, knead into a smooth dough, cover with plastic wrap, and let it ferment until doubled.
Clean the winter melon and pork belly, dice the pork belly and sauté with minced ginger until fragrant. Add soybean paste, sweet bean sauce, light soy sauce, thirteen-spice, salt, and ground pepper to season, let it cool, then add diced winter melon and minced scallions and mix well.
Knead the fermented dough until smooth, divide into small dough pieces, roll into dough skins, wrap the winter melon meat filling and shape into small buns.
Place the buns in a steamer, let them proof for 10 minutes, then steam for about 15 minutes.
These winter melon meat buns have thin skins and large fillings, combining the refreshing taste of winter melon with the savory meat, making them both nutritious and delicious.
2. Winter Melon Pork Rib Stew
Ingredients: 500g winter melon, 500g pork ribs, ginger slices, scallion slices, wolfberries, salt, chicken essence, ground pepper.
Instructions:
Mix the pork ribs with salt, soak to remove blood, then fry with ginger slices and scallion slices until both sides turn golden brown.
Add boiling water, bring to a boil, skim off the foam, then simmer over low heat for 40 minutes.
Peel and core the winter melon, cut into thick slices, rinse in clean water.
Transfer the pork ribs and broth to a clay pot, add the winter melon and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes.
Season with wolfberries, salt, chicken essence, and ground pepper according to personal taste.
The winter melon pork rib stew has a clear broth, tender meat, and the winter melon absorbs the essence of the pork ribs, making it even more delicious and suitable for a summer home-cooked dish.
3. Chicken Juice Braised Winter Melon
Ingredients: 500g winter melon, 1 red chili, garlic cloves, 100g thinly sliced or diced pork, chicken broth, salt, light soy sauce, sesame oil.
Instructions:
Peel and dice the winter melon, slice the red chili, slice the garlic, slice or dice the pork.
Heat oil in a pan, stir-fry the diced pork until it changes color, add diced winter melon and quickly stir-fry.
Pour in an appropriate amount of chicken broth, let the winter melon soak in the broth, simmer over low heat for about 6 minutes.
Add red chili, garlic slices, and season with salt, light soy sauce, and sesame oil, stir-fry quickly and serve.
This chicken juice braised winter melon has an enticing color, tender texture, rich broth, and is a refreshing and delicious dish for the summer.
Conclusion
“In July, eat a melon, no need for Chinese medicine,” this saying reveals the unique value of winter melon in summer. Winter melon not only tastes refreshing but also clears heat, relieves summer heat, diuretic, reduces swelling, removes dampness, and detoxifies. With these winter melon recipes, everyone can easily make delicious winter melon dishes at home and enjoy the beautiful summer days. In this hot season, let’s eat more winter melon and stay away from dampness and swelling problems.
