Remember the day of the beginning of autumn last year, I was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen when suddenly I remembered a saying my mother-in-law often said: “After the beginning of autumn, you should eat more foods that clear heat, especially bitter vegetables. They can help dispel dampness from your body. After eating, you’ll sleep well and your stomach won’t swell easily.” My mother-in-law is an experienced hand who always likes to share some health tips with us. She especially likes bitter chicory. Every time we visit her, she would make us a dish of bitter chicory, saying that it not only clears heat and detoxifies but also helps you sleep through the night.
On that dinner evening, I had a sudden idea and decided to try a new method: rolling bitter chicory in egg pancakes. To be honest, I rarely ate bitter chicory before, as I always felt that bitter vegetables were hard to swallow. But for the sake of my family’s health, I decided to give it a try. Unexpectedly, as soon as this dish was served, everyone enjoyed it, even my son, who usually isn’t fond of vegetables, praised it repeatedly.
Bitter chicory, this vegetable may not be very common in our daily lives, but its nutritional value is actually very high. Bitter chicory is rich in various vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C, vitamin E, and potassium. It has the functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, and has a good effect on dispelling dampness and heat from the body. Especially after the beginning of autumn when the weather is still hot, the body easily sweats, and moisture and heat accumulate, eating bitter chicory can help regulate the body and help us restore our health.
Furthermore, bitter chicory also has a diuretic effect, helping the body eliminate excess water and reduce edema. Therefore, for those prone to bloating, eating more bitter chicory can not only clear heat and detoxify but also effectively relieve abdominal discomfort.
Recipe for Egg Pancake Bitter Chicory Vegetable Roll
This recipe for Egg Pancake Bitter Chicory Vegetable Roll is very simple, even kitchen novices can easily handle it. Moreover, this dish is colorful, aromatic, nutritious, satisfying the taste buds of the family while helping to clear heat, detoxify, dispel dampness, and heat.
Ingredients: A small handful of bitter chicory, half a purple cabbage, 4 eggs, and an appropriate amount of flour
Detailed steps:
1. Prepare the vegetables: First, wash the bitter chicory, remove the old leaves, then soak in a light saltwater solution for 10 minutes to reduce the bitterness and also act as a disinfectant. After soaking, drain the water from the bitter chicory. Wash the purple cabbage, cut it into fine shreds. The vibrant color and crisp texture of the purple cabbage add nutritional value to the dish and enhance its appeal.
2. Make the egg pancakes: Crack the eggs into a bowl, add salt and a little pepper, mix well. Slowly add flour while stirring until the mixture is smooth without lumps. The batter should have a moderate thickness, not too thick or too thin. Heat a little oil in a pan, pour in the egg mixture, and spread it into a thin egg pancake. Cook until both sides are golden brown, then set aside. Repeat this process until all the egg mixture is cooked into pancakes.
3. Roll the vegetables: Lay the cooked egg pancakes flat on a cutting board, spread a layer of purple cabbage shreds, then a layer of bitter chicory. Finally, roll up the egg pancake from one end tightly, forming a compact vegetable roll. Cut the rolled vegetable roll into small pieces using a knife and neatly arrange them on a plate for easy serving. Delicious egg vegetable rolls are now ready, nutritious, flavorful, and appealing to both adults and children.
4. Slice and serve:
The rolled vegetable roll can be served directly, or cut into small pieces, arranged on plates, and drizzled with some light soy sauce or vinegar dressing. This way, a delicious and nutritious Egg Pancake Bitter Chicory Vegetable Roll is ready!
Helpful Tips:
Handling bitter chicory:
Bitter chicory has a bitter taste. If you are not used to this flavor, you can blanch it in boiling water after washing it, then rinse it with cool water to reduce the bitterness.
Thickness of egg pancake:
Make the egg pancakes thin so that they roll up well and have a better texture.
Seasoning:
For those who prefer stronger flavors, you can add some chili sauce or garlic sauce after rolling for a richer taste.
Bitter chicory can be prepared not only as vegetable rolls but also as salads, stir-fries, or soups. For example, a simple cold dish of bitter chicory can be made by mixing cleaned bitter chicory with minced garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce, creating a refreshing cold dish. Stir-fried bitter chicory is also straightforward, stir-fried with garlic slices and shredded meat, delicious and nutritious.
Overall, bitter chicory is a very healthy vegetable, especially after the beginning of autumn, as the weather cools down and moisture accumulates in the body. Eating more bitter chicory at this time can help clear heat, detoxify, reduce bloating, and ensure a peaceful sleep. Try to eat bitter chicory once a week this autumn! It will not only help you dispel dampness, heat but also ensure a refreshing morning, making you and your family fall in love with this simple and delicious homemade dish.
