Hello everyone, I am Shajia Gourmet. Every year when the end of the last phase of summer heat arrives, I always hear the elders say, “Eat a treasure at the end of the last phase, and you won’t have to run to the hospital.” This saying has stayed with me since childhood, and gradually, I also realized the relationship between seasonal changes and dietary nourishment. During this time after the beginning of autumn, the weather is still hot, but the summer heat gradually dissipates, and the body needs some nourishing and cooling foods to balance the internal and external conditions. Among all the ingredients, duck meat is undoubtedly the best choice at this time.
The end of the last phase is the last segment of the three phases of summer heat and usually occurs after the beginning of autumn. Although the temperature gradually decreases, the humidity and heat have not completely faded, and the body can feel uncomfortable due to the fluctuating temperatures. At this time, our diet needs to focus more on cooling, detoxifying, and nourishing to prepare for the upcoming autumn. During this last phase, the diet should be mainly light, avoiding greasy and spicy foods, while consuming more ingredients that are cooling, detoxifying, and moistening. And duck meat is just such an ingredient that is particularly suitable for consumption during this last phase.
When I was young, I always looked forward to the arrival of this seasonal change because my grandmother would stew a large pot of duck soup. The soup was filled with love, and my grandmother often said that duck meat not only cools and reduces heat but also nourishes yin and calms the heart, making it the best supplement for this time. Every time I finished the duck soup, I would feel very relaxed, as if the heat and fatigue of summer had been swept away. Now, I also enjoy making a pot of duck soup for my family during this season; it seems that I’m not just serving soup but also passing down the warmth and care inherited from my grandmother.
Today, I want to share a simple and delicious recipe for duck soup. This soup is cooling and nourishing, easy to make, and loved by both adults and children.
Ingredients Preparation: Duck meat: half a duck (about 1000 grams), old ginger: 5 slices, goji berries: appropriate amount, red dates: 5 pieces, salt: appropriate amount, cooking wine: 1 tablespoon
Steps:
1. Duck preparation: Clean the duck, cut it into pieces. Boil water in a pot, add the cut duck pieces to blanch and remove the blood foam, then scoop out and drain.
2. Stewing the soup: Take a clay pot, add the blanched duck pieces, and add enough clear water. Add the ginger slices, goji berries, and red dates, along with a tablespoon of cooking wine.
3. Simmer on low heat: Place the clay pot on the stove, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours. When the duck meat is tender, and the soup is milky white, add salt to taste according to personal preference.
4. Serve and enjoy: Ladle the stewed duck soup into bowls, accompanied by some rice. The soup is fresh, and the meat is tender, allowing the family to gather together to savor the meal, enjoying both the delicious food and the warmth of family.
The end of the last phase is a great time for health preservation; eating the right foods can help us get through this changing season and lay a good foundation for the upcoming autumn. Duck meat, as a “treasure” during this last phase, not only cools and reduces heat but also nourishes yin and calms the heart, making it one of the best food choices after the beginning of autumn.
Every year at this time, I make a pot of steaming hot duck soup like my grandmother did, bringing health to my family while allowing this inherited flavor to continue from generation to generation. If you are also worried about what to eat during this last phase, why not try this duck soup? I believe you and your family will fall in love with its deliciousness and benefits.
