The dog days of summer are approaching, which is the hottest time of the year. To stay healthy in the scorching heat, we need to pay special attention to our diet. There is a saying, “Eat cool but not cold,” which means we should choose foods that can clear heat and relieve summer heat without being too cold to avoid damaging the body’s yang energy.
During this hot season, choosing the right ingredients not only helps to cool us down but also boosts the body’s yang energy, enhances immunity, and helps us stay healthy throughout the summer. Next, we will introduce 4 dishes suitable for eating during the dog days to help everyone stay energetic during the hot summer days.
1. Red Dates
Red dates have a warm nature and sweet taste. They can help replenish the spleen, invigorate the qi, raise yang energy, nourish blood, calm the mind, moisturize, and detoxify. They can also protect the liver and enhance the body’s immunity.
Recommended recipe: Red Date Steamed Buns
1. Wash and peel the Chinese yam, cut into thick slices, and steam in a pot over high heat for about 15 minutes.
2. Take it out and press it into a fine Chinese yam paste.
3. After it cools down, add the yeast into the warm water, mix until there are no dry flour particles, then knead the dough until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight for low-temperature fermentation.
4. The next morning, prepare some red dates, remove the pits, and cut into small pieces.
5. Add some black sesame seeds.
6. Take out the dough from the refrigerator, add the red dates and black sesame seeds, knead for a while, then divide the dough into small dough balls, roll them round, and let them ferment in the pan for the second time.
7. Once the steamed buns in the pot have risen and increased in volume, steam over high heat for 15 minutes, turn off the heat, let it sit for 3 minutes, and you’ll have a pot of fragrant and sweet red date Chinese yam steamed buns—very soft with a chewy texture and a hint of sweetness.
2. Chinese Chives
Chinese chives have a hot nature that helps invigorate yang. They contain a high protein content that can strengthen the spleen and stomach. Although it’s best to eat Chinese chives in early spring, when the wind is still cold, you can also consume them in moderation during summer to help dispel yin, scatter cold, nourish yang, protect the liver. Chinese chives are rich in fiber, which can promote bowel movements and prevent constipation.
Recommended recipe: Chinese Chive Dumplings
1. Mix medium gluten flour, salt, yeast, and warm water to form a smooth dough, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise until double in size.
2. Prepare a bunch of Chinese chives, wash and dry them, beat four eggs with a spoon of salt, then heat oil in a pan, pour in the egg mixture, scramble it, and set aside.
3. Chop the dried Chinese chives, mix with the scrambled eggs, add a spoon of cooking oil to seal in moisture, then season with salt, chicken stock, oyster sauce, sesame oil, mix well.
4. Once the dough has risen, knead it on a cutting board to release air, let it return to its original size, poke a hole in the middle, stretch it into a long strip, cut it into equal-sized pieces, sprinkle with dry flour to prevent sticking, then flatten the dough pieces.
5. Flatten all the pieces, roll out each piece into a round shape, not too thin, then add a spoon of filling, wrap them as desired.
6. Heat oil in a pan, add the dumplings, cover and fry over low heat initially.
7. Once the bottom turns golden, pour in half a bowl of water, enough to cover one-third of the dumplings, cover and continue to fry over medium-low heat.
Can use clear water or starch water, if using starch water, remember to dilute it slightly, use less starch. When the water in the pan dries up, turn off the heat, let it rest for 1 minute, then invert the dumplings onto a larger plate.
3. Bean Sprouts
Bean sprouts have a mild taste and are refreshing. They have a cooling effect and can promote liver qi flow, invigorate the spleen and stomach, and protect yang energy. Eating bean sprouts in high-temperature summer can help prevent overheating.
Recommended recipe: Bean Sprout Sprouting
1. Soak 100g of mung beans in water overnight until they start sprouting. Drain the water the next day to dry the beans.
2. Prepare disposable small bowls and gauze. If not available, you can use small towels. Cut them into small pieces.
3. Add mung beans to each small bowl.
4. Place the towel inside to cover the mung beans, not too thick. After assembling them all, water each small bowl with a little water to moisten the beans, let them soak for 5 minutes.
5. Pour out the water from each bowl. Repeat this step twice a day, morning and evening, for about 3-4 days until the mung bean sprouts are ready.
6. Find a box to hold these small bowls together, cover them with a thick, non-transparent cloth, and wait for them to sprout.
7. on the 2nd day
8. on the 3rd day
9. Day 4
10. Before eating, trim the bean sprouts and stir-fry them with some lard, season with salt and chicken stock add some scallions.
4. Longan
Longan has a sweet taste, warm nature, and can nourish the heart, calm the mind, nourish blood, and strengthen yang. In summer, when suffering from yang deficiency and afraid of cold, it’s good to eat longan in moderation.
Recommended recipe: Longan Lotus Seed Soup
1. Prepare dried longan, dried lily, dried lotus seeds, and goji berries, about 20g each, with goji berries in a slightly smaller quantity.
2. Boil water in a pot, add longan, lily, and lotus seeds, bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
3. Add rock sugar and goji berries, continue to cook for 2 minutes.
Dedicated to sharing delicious dishes and snacks using the simplest ingredients. I am Rong’er, sharing a new recipe every day to help you keep your stomach healthy! Feel free to like, follow, share, and bookmark. Thank you for your support! See you next time.
