Today marks the start of the dog days of summer, and the entire country enters the period of the three伏天. Are you ready to endure the scorching heat? This year’s three伏天 is different from previous years; it runs from July 12 (today) to the end of the last伏 on August 20, lasting a full 40 days. These 40 days won’t be easy; not only is it important to take precautions against the heat, but dietary choices are also crucial. Different regions have their own traditional foods on the first day of伏—Northeasters typically eat dumplings, people in Shanghai enjoy wontons, and those in Hangzhou savor ham… There’s even a saying: “First伏 dumplings, second伏 noodles, and third伏 pancakes with eggs,” which refers to the dietary habits after伏 begins.
So what foods should we eat after伏 for good health? In hot weather, the body loses a lot of moisture, making people feel lazy and low on energy. At this time, it’s best to consume foods with high water content, such as vegetables and fruits. When it comes to fruits, watermelon is the go-to; it not only has a high water content but is also sweet, making it a popular choice in summer. As for vegetables, tomatoes are an excellent option; they are juicy and have a sweet and sour flavor that makes them delicious whether eaten raw or cooked. Some people consider tomatoes as fruit, while others see them as vegetables.
In the 19th century, there was a tomato importer in the United States who brought a batch of tomatoes to the country and was charged with vegetable tariffs. However, he argued that tomatoes are fruits and shouldn’t be taxed as vegetables, so he took the tax department to court. Unfortunately, the court ruled that tomatoes are primarily used as a vegetable in cooking, so they were classified as such. Since then, people have followed this ruling, commonly believing tomatoes to be vegetables. Do you still have doubts about whether tomatoes are vegetables or fruits?
Eating tomatoes during the dog days of summer has many benefits. Raw tomatoes can help replenish vitamin C, while cooked tomatoes provide antioxidants; either way, they contribute to nutritional needs. In the hot summer, eating raw tomatoes can help eliminate internal heat, quench thirst, stimulate appetite, and aid digestion, helping the body regain energy. Tomatoes also assist with digestion, provide nutrients, protect the heart and lungs, and lower cholesterol, making them highly beneficial for the body.
During summer, many people opt to eat tomatoes raw, especially in the form of sugar-coated tomatoes, which are easy to make and very popular. Today, let’s take a look at how to prepare this dish!
First, prepare a tomato, wash it thoroughly, then make a cross-cut on the back before blanching it in boiling water. This way, the skin of the tomato can be easily peeled off. After peeling, cut the tomato into small pieces. If you enjoy eating the skin, you can skip this step—just wash it well and cut it into chunks to move on to the next step.
Next, take an appropriate amount of white sugar and sprinkle it over the cut tomato pieces. Use chopsticks to mix everything thoroughly, allowing the sugar to fully integrate with the tomatoes. You can also let it sit for a while for the tomatoes to absorb the flavor. And just like that, a delicious sugar-coated tomato dish is ready. While it might not look very appealing, it’s absolutely delicious! If you like, you can put it in the refrigerator for a while for an even better flavor!
When you take a bite of the prepared sugar-coated tomatoes, the sweet juices burst in your mouth, and the tiny tomato seeds along with the tender flesh are coated in a refreshing sweetness from the sugar, complemented by the slight acidity of the tomatoes. It’s a perfect dish for cooling down during summer.
With just two simple steps, you can create a refreshing summer dish that also provides essential nutrients—this is the wonderful aspect of tomatoes. Have you learned how to make this sweet sugar-coated tomato dish? Hurry to the kitchen and give it a try!
