July 15th marks the beginning of Sanfu Days. During Sanfu Days, the temperature is high, humidity is high, and people often feel tired, lack of appetite, and may even experience symptoms of dampness. In such weather conditions, the body is prone to depletion of yang energy, so we need to “nourish yang” through diet, replenish yang energy, expel dampness, detoxify, and strengthen the spleen and stomach. Today, let’s introduce four types of “nourishing yang” foods suitable for Sanfu Days and their delicious recipes!
1. Ginger
Ginger has the effects of warming the middle, dispersing cold, inducing sweating, and releasing the surface, making it an excellent choice for nourishing yang in summer. It can not only dispel cold but also promote digestion and relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
Recipe Recommendation: Baby Ginger Duck
Ingredients: 200g baby ginger, 500g duck meat, 1 green pepper, 1 red pepper, 3 cloves of garlic, 2 tablespoons of light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of cooking wine, salt, a little sugar, cooking oil.
Specific Steps:
1. Slice the baby ginger, cut the green and red peppers into chunks, crush the garlic; wash and cut the duck meat into pieces, blanch in boiling water to remove any odor, then drain.
2. Heat the pan with oil, sauté the garlic until fragrant, add the duck meat and stir-fry evenly, pour in the cooking wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, continue stir-frying until the duck meat is evenly colored.
3. Add the baby ginger slices, stir-fry evenly, pour in an adequate amount of water, bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 40 minutes. Add the green and red pepper chunks, stir-fry evenly, season with salt and a little sugar, continue simmering for 5 minutes until flavorful.
This Baby Ginger Duck dish is aromatic and tender. The spiciness of the baby ginger and the fragrance of the duck meat blend perfectly, dispelling cold and invigorating the spleen, making it an excellent choice for nourishing yang in summer.
2. Perilla Leaves
Perilla leaves have the effects of dispelling cold, promoting digestion, and soothing the stomach, making them especially suitable for consumption in the damp and hot summer.
Recipe Recommendation: Stir-Fried Perilla Leaves with Cucumber
Ingredients: 50g perilla leaves, 2 cucumbers, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce, salt, cooking oil.
Detailed Steps:
1. Wash the cucumbers, slice them, wash the perilla leaves, cut them into small pieces, crush the garlic.
2. Heat the pan with oil, sauté the garlic until fragrant, add the cucumber slices, stir-fry until soft, then add the perilla leaves, stir-fry quickly, add light soy sauce and salt for seasoning, stir-fry until well combined, then serve.
This dish is refreshing and delicious, with the crispness of the cucumber and the unique aroma of perilla leaves complementing each other. Perilla leaves have a significant effect on soothing the stomach and promoting digestion, making them a good choice for expelling dampness in summer.
3. Okra
Okra is rich in mucin protein, which helps protect the stomach lining, promotes digestion, and has a good effect on nourishing yang.
Recipe Recommendation: Blanched Okra
Ingredients: 200g okra, 10g chopped garlic, 5g minced red chili, cooking oil, salt, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil.
Steps:
1. Wash the okra, blanch until slightly cooked, drain and place on a plate, chop the garlic and red chili, set aside.
2. Heat the pan with oil, add the chopped garlic and red chili, sauté until fragrant, then evenly pour the sautéed garlic and red chili over the okra. In a bowl, mix an adequate amount of salt, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil, pour over the okra, stir evenly.
This blanched okra dish is tender, refreshing, and garlic and chili elevate its flavor. Okra’s mucin protein has a protective effect on the intestines and stomach, making it a good choice for nourishing yang in summer.
4. Lamb
Lamb is warm in nature and has the effects of tonifying deficiency, warming the middle, dispelling cold, and warming the stomach, making it an ideal ingredient for nourishing yang in summer.
Recipe Recommendation: Lamb and Vermicelli Soup
Ingredients: 300g lamb slices, 200g cabbage, 100g spinach, 50g vermicelli, 3 slices of ginger, 3 cloves of garlic, salt, a little white pepper, cooking oil.
Specific Method:
1. Wash the cabbage and cut into segments, wash the spinach, soak the vermicelli in warm water until soft, crush the ginger and garlic.
2. Heat the pot with a little cooking oil, add the ginger and garlic, sauté until fragrant, add enough water, bring to a boil, then add the cabbage segments and cook until tender.
3. Add the softened vermicelli and spinach, bring to a boil, then add the lamb slices, season with salt and white pepper, cook until the lamb changes color, then it is ready to serve.
This soup is fragrant and delicious, with tender and tasty lamb slices, sweet cabbage, fresh spinach, and slippery vermicelli creating a dish that is rich in nutrients and has a diverse texture, making it an ideal choice for nourishing yang in summer.
In conclusion, after entering Sanfu on July 15th, choosing “nourishing yang” foods such as ginger, perilla leaves, okra, and lamb can not only replenish yang and expel dampness but also strengthen the spleen and stomach, allowing us to maintain healthy vitality during Sanfu Days. These four dishes are not only delicious but also easy to make, suitable for daily family consumption, so give them a try!
