Introduction: Dog days of summer, eat less bitter gourd and cucumber, eat more of this! A treasure for the whole body, 2 yuan per catty, refreshing and thirst-quenching!
During the scorching dog days of summer, the sun is blazing, the heat is suffocating, the body sweats easily, metabolism speeds up, and it is also at risk of being invaded by “summer dampness.” At this time, reasonable dietary adjustments are particularly important, not only for cooling and thirst-quenching but also for enhancing the body’s immunity.
Among the many summer foods, although bitter gourd and cucumber are delicious, there is another food that is often overlooked but has become an invaluable “treasure” in the dog days of summer due to its unique nutritional value and low price – mung beans.
1. Mung Beans: The cool messenger of the dog days
Mung beans, as a traditional summer heat-relieving delicacy, have been beloved since ancient times. Not only are they low-priced, often around 2 yuan per catty in the market, but they are also a treasure trove of nutrients from beans to bean skins.
Mung beans are rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, various vitamins, and minerals, and these components play an indispensable role in regulating electrolyte balance, promoting metabolism, and enhancing immunity.
More importantly, mung beans have a cold nature and sweet taste, clearing heat and detoxifying, effectively relieving thirst and irritability caused by high temperatures in summer, making them a natural “air conditioner” in the dog days of summer.
2. Various ways to eat mung beans, combining deliciousness and health
There are various ways to consume mung beans, whether in soups, porridge, desserts, or pastries, they can bring both deliciousness and health benefits. Here are some simple and easy-to-make mung bean delicacies to help you master the secrets of the dog days of summer effortlessly.
1. Mung Bean Soup
Ingredients: 200g mung beans, appropriate rock sugar, and water.
Instructions:
Rinse the mung beans and soak them in water for 2-3 hours to cook faster.
Put the soaked mung beans in a pot, add enough water to cover (about 5-6 times the volume of mung beans), bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat.
Stir occasionally during simmering to prevent sticking. When the mung beans bloom and the broth thickens, adjust the sweetness by adding rock sugar according to your preference.
Continue simmering over low heat for 5-10 minutes, then let it cool after the rock sugar has completely melted before serving.
Tips: Chilled mung bean soup is more refreshing and perfect for summer days.
2. Mung Bean Cake
Ingredients: 200g mung bean flour (or ground skinned mung beans), 50g fine sugar, honey, water or milk, and molds.
Instructions:
Mix mung bean flour and fine sugar evenly, slowly add water or milk, stirring continuously until a thick batter forms.
Let the batter sit for 30 minutes to absorb moisture and become smoother.
Take a portion of the batter and press it lightly into the molds, then remove from the molds.
Steam the mung bean cakes over high heat for 15-20 minutes until the surface solidifies and darkens.
Once cooked and slightly cooled, brush with a layer of honey for shine and flavor.
Tips: Adjust the sweetness of the mung bean cakes according to personal preference and add some dried fruits or chopped nuts for texture.
3. Mung Bean Starch Noodles
Ingredients: 100g mung bean starch, 600ml water (500ml for dissolving starch, 100ml for cooking), a pinch of salt, minced garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, coriander, and other seasonings.
Instructions:
Mix mung bean starch with 500ml water until no lumps remain.
Pour the remaining 100ml water into a pot, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and slowly pour in the starch water while stirring quickly.
Continue stirring until the liquid in the pot becomes transparent and thick, then stir until completely set into a semi-transparent state before pouring into molds to cool and set.
After cooling, cut the starch noodles into strips or pieces, add minced garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, coriander, and other seasonings, mix well, and enjoy.
Tips: Mung bean starch noodles are smooth and refreshing, a great option for cooling down in the summer.
3. Health wisdom and precautions for mung beans
While mung beans are good for health, they are not suitable for everyone. Due to their cold nature, they are not suitable for those with a weak spleen and stomach or weak constitution; also, when cooking mung beans, it is important to control the cooking time and heat to avoid overcooking and nutrient loss.
In conclusion, mung beans are a healthy delicacy for the dog days of summer, not only affordable but also rich in nutrients. Through proper consumption, we can easily enjoy the coolness and health benefits mung beans bring, making this summer more bearable. This summer, why not prepare some mung bean delicacies for your family and safeguard their health and happiness together.
