The weather is getting hotter and hotter. In hot weather, the body's consumption and demand for water increase. Eating more fruits can replenish water and help cool down. Seasonal fruits are fresh and juicy, of course, you should try one, and you can't miss the fresh apricots that are in season. In the Jiangnan region, there is a custom of "tasting three fresh" on the day of Lixia (Start of Summer), and apricots are one of the "three fresh" that must be tasted in some areas. In Chinese folklore, there is also a saying: "Eat an apricot during the Dragon Boat Festival, and you won't get old and sick." Although this is an exaggeration, it shows that apricots have a very good nutritional value in people's minds.
Apricots are harmful? No, apricots are very nutritious.
Modern scientific research has found that the flesh of apricots has a high sugar content, and the sugar-acid ratio is just right, making them sweet and sour to eat. That sourness and sweetness bring a touch of freshness to early summer. The flesh of apricots is usually yellow because it is rich in carotenoids, making it a good choice for supplementing vitamin A and has good antioxidant effects. The mineral content in apricot flesh is also very rich. In some varieties, the calcium content in every 100 grams of apricot flesh can be as high as 200 milligrams, making it a good fruit for calcium supplementation. The ripening period of apricots is long, and they are usually available from May to September each year, so you can eat fresh apricots for about 5 months a year. In addition to the flesh, the apricot pit is also famous, which is the beloved almond. Almonds are also very nutritious, especially high in polyunsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial to the cardiovascular system, accounting for more than 95% of the total fat. Eating a small amount every day is especially suitable for the elderly.
Do not eat bitter almonds raw.
Many people hear that almonds are good, and after eating the apricot flesh, they want to eat the almond directly, and even when they see apricot pits in the mountains, they want to eat them. Here, I need to remind everyone, never eat apricot pits (kernels) directly out of curiosity, be careful not to get poisoned. The toxicity of bitter almonds comes from hydrogen cyanide released when amygdalin (cyanogenic glycoside) is hydrolyzed. In some movies and TV shows, "poison with an almond smell" appears, which is also hydrogen cyanide. It affects the nervous system, and in severe cases, it can even lead to death. In the past, there have been tragic incidents of children dying from eating a large number of bitter almonds out of curiosity. Sweet almonds also contain cyanogenic glycosides, but the content is less, about one-third of that of bitter almonds. But you can't be careless, eating too much may also cause poisoning. However, you don't have to worry too much, as long as you treat it a little, bitter almonds can become very safe. Research has also found that boiling in boiling water can remove more than 90% of the toxic substances. Therefore, if you must eat it, the standard method is to boil the bitter almond in boiling water, then soak it in clear water for 24 hours, change the water and soak it again, so that most of the cyanide can be removed.
Recipe Recommendation
Fresh and mature apricots are sweet and sour and can be eaten directly. However, they can also be made into delicious dishes.
Chicken, Apricot, and Mushroom Rice
Ingredients: 4-5 pieces of chicken thigh; 2 shiitake mushrooms; 1 celery stalk; 7-8 apricot slices; appropriate amount of seasonings.
Steps:
Marinate the chicken thigh in advance with cooking wine and soy sauce for a few hours, set aside;
Stir-fry the prepared chicken thigh and seasonings in a pan until fragrant, then add the mushrooms and stir-fry for two minutes, then add apricots, celery and other ingredients and stir-fry for 5 minutes, and add seasonings according to your own taste preference.
Add rice and stir-fry evenly, then add water to cover the ingredients, turn to low heat and wait for the rice to cook!
Almond Jelly
Although it is called "jelly", almond jelly does not contain any beans. It is made by grinding sweet almonds into a slurry, adding water and boiling, then adding agar, and letting it freeze and solidify into a solid like tofu. On a hot summer day, having a bowl of icy almond jelly is a pleasant thing.
Ingredients: 1 bag of milk, 100 grams of sweet almonds, 5 grams of agar, 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Steps:
Grind the sweet almonds into a slurry and add an appropriate amount of water to boil; or use a soy milk machine to make the slurry, then filter and set aside;
Prepare the agar and put it in a cup for later use;
Pour the milk into a pot, add the almond slurry, then bring to a boil, pour in the agar, mix well, let it cool, and then refrigerate.
When eating, cut it into cubes, or you can add honey according to your personal preference.