Tomorrow is the first day of the beginning of hottest summer, and during this period, one should remember the taboos for eating: “Eat 3 types of meat, 3 types of melons, avoid 3 flavors,” to endure the hot summer!
As the saying goes, “Cold in the ninth, hot in the dog days.” Tomorrow marks the beginning of the hottest period of the summer. This year, the dog days will last for a full 40 days, an extended version of the usual period. According to the meteorological department’s forecast, the hottest days of the year may fall within these initial days of the hottest summer period. These days stepping out can be really scorching hot, with the temperature on the streets feeling like a hot pot, causing profuse sweating and resulting in a loss of appetite upon returning home. However, during the hot summer days, sweating helps in fast metabolism, so it’s essential to eat something even if not feeling hungry.
There is a popular saying, “Nourish in the three nines, nourish in the dog days,” During the dog days, in terms of diet, it is crucial to pay attention to certain things. First of all, after the beginning of the hottest period, one needs to avoid certain foods. Secondly, maintaining a balanced diet is important; one should not just consume fruits and vegetables but should also include staple foods and meats. Here, I would like to suggest to everyone: During the dog days, remember to eat 3 types of melons, 3 types of meat, avoid 3 flavors, and successfully get through this challenging summer. Let’s see how to achieve it in detail!
Firstly, eat 3 types of melons – winter melon, bitter melon, and watermelon.
1. Winter Melon.
During the scorching dog days, winter melon is a frequent guest on our dining tables. Winter melon has high water content and low calories. It is rich in vitamins, tastes light and is easily digestible. Consuming winter melon helps in clearing summer heat, removing internal heat, and dampness, making it especially suitable for summer consumption.
Recommended dish: Winter Melon and Shrimp Soup.
Main ingredients: Winter melon, shrimps.
Seasonings: Salt, scallions, ginger, cooking wine, cilantro.
Instructions: 1. Peel and seed the winter melon, cut it into small pieces, rinse it, and drain excess water. Thaw the shrimps, then marinate them with salt, scallions, ginger, and cooking wine to remove any fishy smell.
2. Put the winter melon into a pot, add water and salt, bring it to boil, then simmer for 2 minutes, and finally add the marinated shrimps.
3. Once the shrimps change color, season with salt, add cilantro, stir well, and then turn off the heat.
2. Bitter Melon.
It is said, “Eat bitterness in summer, and a comfortable life you will have.” Eating bitter melon in summer is very beneficial for the body. Bitter melon contains a high amount of protein, bitter glycosides, and other essential nutrients. Consuming bitter melon in moderation helps in providing nutrients, lowering blood sugar, stimulating appetite, detoxifying, aiding in weight loss, and enhancing immunity.
Recommended dish: Stir-fried Bitter Melon.
Main ingredient: Bitter melon.
Seasonings: Cooking oil, salt, scallions, garlic, chili, chicken essence, light soy sauce.
Instructions: 1. Wash the bitter melon, cut it in half, remove the pulp and seeds, then slice it thinly. Wash and chop scallions, garlic, and chili and set aside in a bowl.
2. Boil water in a pot, blanch the bitter melon for 2 minutes, then transfer it to a cold bath. Heat cooking oil in a pan, add the prepared seasonings, stir-fry, add light soy sauce, chicken essence, and salt, mix well.
3. Pour the seasoned sauce over the bitter melon, mix well, transfer to a serving plate, and serve.
3. Watermelon.
Watermelon is an indispensable summer fruit for cooling off. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, replenishing lost body fluids, providing energy, diuretic, and reducing swelling. Watermelon can be enjoyed as it is, or turned into refreshing watermelon jelly, a favorite among children.
Recommended dish: Watermelon Jelly.
Main ingredients: Watermelon, white agar-agar powder.
Seasonings: Sugar.
Instructions: 1. Scoop out the flesh of half a watermelon and blend it to make juice, leaving the rind aside. Dissolve agar-agar powder in water and set aside.
2. Pour the fruit juice into a pot, bring it to a boil, add the agar-agar powder, stir well, and turn off the heat once done.
3. Pour the mixture into the watermelon rind, let it cool naturally until set, then cut it into pieces with the rind intact or remove it and plate the jelly.
Secondly, eat 3 types of meat – loach, lean meat, duck meat.
1. Loach.
In traditional Chinese medicine, loach is considered a neutral food, neither cold nor warm in nature. This means consuming loach will not cause excessive heat or coldness in the body. Loach is rich in protein, calcium, iron, and other beneficial nutrients, making it a great food choice for those in need of protein, individuals with weak constitutions, malnutrition, or growing children.
Recommended dish: Loach and Red Date Soup.
Main ingredients: Loach, red dates.
Seasonings: Cooking oil, salt, scallions, ginger, cooking wine.
Instructions: 1. Clean the loach, remove the viscera, blanch it in hot water to remove mucus, marinate with scallions, ginger, and cooking wine to remove fishy smell. Wash red dates and remove seeds.
2. Heat oil in a pot, fry the loach until golden brown, add ginger slices and cooking wine, then pour in enough water, bring it to a boil, and add red dates.
3. Simmer over low heat for half an hour after boiling, season with salt, then turn off the heat.
2. Lean Meat.
Pork is also considered a neutral food. In summer, it’s beneficial to eat lean meat as it is rich in protein, low in fat, and not greasy. Consuming lean meat nourishes the kidneys, replenishes blood, nourishes yin, and moisturizes dryness.
Recommended dish: Crispy Fried Pork.
Main ingredients: Lean meat.
Seasonings: Cooking oil, salt, scallions, garlic, ginger, cooking wine, cornstarch, crispy fried pork powder.
Instructions: 1. Clean the lean meat, cut it into strips, marinate with salt, scallion-garlic-ginger water, cooking wine, and cornstarch to season.
2. Half an hour later, mix crispy fried pork powder with oil and the marinating liquid in a bowl, add the meat strips and coat evenly. Heat oil in a pan, fry the meat until golden and crispy, then remove.
3. For extra crispiness, refry the pork strips at higher temperature, remove excess oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper powder for enhanced flavor, and it’s ready to be served.
3. Duck Meat.
Duck meat is considered a “cooling” food and is consumed in many areas during the summer. Duck meat is rich in protein, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients, making it suitable for nourishment during the hottest days without causing any stress to the body.
Recommended dish: Beer Duck.
Main ingredients: Duck, green and red chili peppers, beer.
Seasonings: Cooking oil, salt, scallions, ginger, cooking wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, spices.
Instructions: 1. Clean and chop the duck into pieces, add scallion knots, ginger slices, cooking wine, and water to a pot, bring it to a boil, then remove and clean the duck.
2. Heat oil in a pan, stir-fry the duck pieces, add scallions, ginger, cooking wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and spices, stir-fry, then pour in a can of beer and bring it to a boil.
3. Simmer until the duck is tender, then increase the heat, season with sugar to taste, reduce the sauce, and once the sauce thickens, it’s ready to serve.
Lastly, avoid 3 flavors – avoid spicy flavors, avoid nuts, avoid consuming leftovers.
1. Avoid spicy flavors.
Summer is already hot and dry, consuming spicy foods is like adding fuel to the fire, leading to increased heat in the body and possible symptoms of excessive internal heat. Therefore, spicy foods should be avoided.
2. Avoid nuts.
In hot summer weather with increased sweating, it’s essential to drink more water and consume high-water content foods. Nuts are high in fat, low in moisture, and can cause a dry mouth and throat sensation when consumed, so it’s best to avoid them in summer.
3. Avoid consuming leftovers.
The dog days are characterized by hot and humid weather, allowing bacteria to multiply rapidly. Leftover food can quickly go bad within a short period. Even though many people store leftovers in the refrigerator thinking it’s safe, prolonged refrigeration can also lead to food spoilage, causing stomach issues upon consumption. Therefore, it’s advisable not to keep cooked meals overnight during summer; it’s best to finish them in one go.
That’s all about dietary taboos after the beginning of the hottest period. Do you have any cooling tips to share? Feel free to leave your comments in the section below, and let’s share and learn from each other. Your culinary expertise is valued, so please give me your feedback.
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