Introduction: In July, eat a melon, no need for traditional Chinese medicine, it helps clear heat, promote diuresis, and facilitate bowel movements, both affordable and delicious!
As summer sets in, the weather gets hotter by the day, the heat can affect our appetite. Many friends may experience a decrease in appetite, and if long-term nutritional intake is insufficient, it can impact our immune system. Therefore, the hotter it gets, the more attention should be paid to dietary nutrition, adjust the diet appropriately, replenish the body with sufficient nutrients, strengthen the body’s resistance, and only then can we safely pass through the dog days.
There is a saying, “In spring eat buds, in summer eat melons, in autumn eat fruits, and in winter eat roots.” This is a traditional dietary principle in Chinese cuisine. Following this tradition, summer is the season suitable for eating melons. Melons and fruits are rich in nutrients, high in water content, can provide the body with a variety of nutrients and water, and most melons are in season in summer, eating in season promotes a healthy body!
Cucumbers can be considered as representatives of summer melons and vegetables. Summer is their peak season, with fresh, juicy, crisp, sweet cucumbers rich in protein, carotenes, and various vitamins, having the effects of detoxification, promoting bowel movements, clearing heat, diuresis, brain health, and calming the nerves. Fresh cucumbers can be eaten raw directly or made into various delicious dishes, they are simply enjoyable! Below I will share two simple and delicious ways to prepare cucumbers:
【Cucumber and Shrimp Dumplings】:
1. Wash and shred two cucumbers clean. If the cucumbers are older, remove the core and seeds, then put the cucumber shreds in a bowl, add 3 grams of salt, mix well by hand to marinate for a while, release the water from inside to prevent leakage when wrapping later. Don’t waste the cucumber juice, use it to mix the dumpling dough, it’s especially delicious.
2. Next, prepare and beat 2 eggs in a bowl, add some cooking wine and salt, stir well and fry into evenly sized egg chunks in a pan, fry a bit longer for a more fragrant egg. Then set aside.
3. Peel and devein fresh shrimp, rinse clean, cut into small pieces in a bowl, then add some light soy sauce, ground pepper, and cooking wine, mix well and marinate, helping remove any fishy smell and enhancing flavor.
4. After extracting the water from the cucumber shreds, squeeze them in cheesecloth to drain excess water, then chop finely on a cutting board, place in a bowl. Add the egg chunks and shrimp, then add ginger, green onions, a spoon of salt, a spoon of oyster sauce, some Sichuan pepper oil, chicken essence, and sesame oil for seasoning, mix well, and the delicious cucumber and shrimp dumpling filling is ready.
【Cucumber and Egg Soup】:
1. Wash and slice one cucumber after removing the ends, place in a bowl, then add 3 grams of salt, mix well, marinate for 5-10 minutes. After the water comes out of the cucumber, rinse twice with clean water to remove excess salt, this way the cucumber slices will be crisper, more tender, and tastier.
2. Place a handful of dried shrimp in a bowl to soak in warm water; beat 2 eggs in a small bowl, add a little salt and rice vinegar, beat well and set aside; then add a small spoon of cornstarch in a bowl, with half a bowl of water, mix to make a slurry and set aside.
3. In a pot, bring water to a boil, add the soaked shrimp, then add an appropriate amount of salt, ground pepper, chicken essence, and a little sugar for seasoning, mix well, then add the cornstarch slurry, cook until the soup thickens, reduce the heat, slowly drizzle in the beaten eggs, when the egg forms beautiful egg flowers, increase the heat, then add the cucumber slices, cook for a while, add parsley and sesame oil, stir well, and it’s ready to serve, delicious and refreshing, simple to make, tasty and satisfying!
In July, eating a melon is good, no need for traditional Chinese medicine. It helps clear heat, promotes diuresis, and facilitates bowel movements. Eating more cucumbers in July is appropriate, fresh, nutritious, and in season, both affordable and delicious! I’m Xiaofeng, if you enjoy the delicacies shared by Xiaofeng, don’t forget to follow “Eatholic Fengzi”!
This article is an original creation by Eatholic Fengzi, welcome to engage and exchange ideas. Let’s all benefit and remember, three heads are better than one!
