During the dog days of summer, the temperature is high, humidity is high, making it the most challenging time of the year. The hot weather easily causes rapid loss of body moisture, coupled with prolonged high temperatures, which can lead to decreased physical strength, loss of appetite, and even heat stroke. In such a season, proper dietary adjustment is particularly important. Choose light, easily digestible, and energy-replenishing foods to ensure good health.
Among many vegetables, fennel stands out as an ideal choice on the summer table due to its unique taste and rich nutritional value. Fennel not only has a refreshing taste but is also rich in dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and other essential nutrients. It can stimulate appetite, aid digestion, and help warm the kidneys, dispel cold, and nourish and protect the stomach.
Fennel has a refreshing texture and unique aroma, making it suitable for creating delicious dishes with various ingredients. During the dog days of summer, try making a few delicious dumplings with fennel, not only are they delicious but they also help regulate the digestive system and maintain health for the family.
Recipe 1: Fennel, Dried Shrimp, and Egg Dumplings
Ingredients: 200g fennel, 50g dried shrimp, 3 eggs, 500g flour, water, salt, sesame oil
Instructions:
1. Prepare the dough: Add flour to a large bowl, slowly add water until it forms a smooth dough. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 20 minutes.
2. Prepare fennel, dried shrimp, and eggs: Wash the fennel, remove old leaves, cut it into small pieces, and set aside in a bowl; rinse the dried shrimp, drain, and set aside; beat the eggs in a bowl, stir until well blended. Add a little oil to a pan, pour in the beaten eggs, stir until set, then chop them.
3. Make the filling: Mix the fennel with dried shrimp and chopped eggs, add salt, light soy sauce, cooking oil, and sesame oil, mix well to make the filling.
4. Make dumplings: Roll the dough into a long strip, cut into small pieces, roll out into dumpling wrappers. Place a portion of the filling in the center of each wrapper, fold and seal the edges, then boil the dumplings until they float to the surface, then cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
These fennel, dried shrimp, and egg dumplings are fragrant and refreshing, with the richness of dried shrimp and the smoothness of eggs combining perfectly with the fennel aroma. When making them, avoid adding salt too early to the fennel to prevent excessive water release which affects the texture. Boil the dumplings in plenty of water at a rolling boil to prevent sticking.
Recipe 2: Fennel and Pork Dumplings
Ingredients: 200g fennel, 300g pork (with fat and lean meat), ginger, scallion, 500g flour, water, salt, soy sauce, sesame oil
Instructions:
1. Prepare the dough: Same as above, mix the flour with water until smooth, let it rest for 20 minutes.
2. Prepare the fennel and pork: Wash the fennel, remove old leaves, cut into small pieces, and place in a bowl; chop the pork into mince, add to the bowl. Finely chop ginger and scallion, mix with the pork.
3. Make the filling: Add ginger and scallion to the pork mince, season with salt, soy sauce, cooking oil, and sesame oil. Add finely cut fennel, mix well to make the filling.
4. Make dumplings: Same as above, roll out the dough, cut into small pieces, roll out wrappers. Fill with the fennel and pork filling, fold and seal the edges, then boil until the dumplings float and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Fennel and pork dumplings have a rich and delicious filling, with the fennel’s aroma complementing the tender pork. When preparing the pork filling, adding ginger enhances flavor, and adjust the fennel ratio to taste. When cooking the dumplings, adding cold water three times helps make the wrapper smoother and the filling fully cooked.
Making fennel dumplings for the family during the dog days of summer not only satisfies the taste buds but also helps warm the kidneys, dispel cold, and nourish and protect the stomach, keeping the digestive system healthy and complexion rosy. Fennel is highly nutritious, and when paired with dried shrimp, eggs, or pork, it creates delicious and healthy dishes, making it an ideal food choice for summer. Enjoy these delicious fennel dumplings during the scorching summer days for a healthy and comfortable experience.
