As the saying goes, on the 8th day of the 3rd lunar month, eat toon sprouts. While toon sprouts are delicious, how you eat them is crucial. Listen to the experts teach you how to perfectly pair this edible medicinal seasonal vegetable with other foods.
According to Professor Yang Li, a health expert from Xiyuan Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, toon sprouts are cold in nature and bitter in taste, possessing multiple nutritional and therapeutic benefits such as clearing heat and detoxifying, strengthening the stomach and regulating qi, and soothing the liver and improving eyesight. However, for people with different constitutions, choosing the right side dishes is key when eating toon sprouts.
For those with a cold constitution or weak spleen and stomach, eggs are the perfect match for toon sprouts. Eggs are warm in nature, and the traditional dish of scrambled eggs with toon sprouts has a certain nourishing effect, making it very suitable for this group of people.
In addition, this dish can be modified by adding a little flour to make toon and egg pancakes, which also makes a great staple food. Because it is rich in fiber and has the effect of regulating qi, it can also help with constipation.
For those with a hot constitution who are prone to "heatiness," tofu is the perfect accompaniment for toon sprouts. A simple cold salad of toon sprouts and tofu is refreshing, clears heat and detoxifies, and is very suitable for "cooling down" people with a "hot" constitution.
Professor Yang Li says that toon sprouts not only have a unique flavor but are also very nutritious. Their content of vitamin C, E, calcium, protein, etc., ranks among the highest in vegetables. Therefore, eating toon sprouts frequently in the spring can help "raise" yang energy and enhance the body's immunity. However, precisely because it is a "trigger" food (a food that can exacerbate certain conditions), people with high blood pressure, cerebral hemorrhage, allergies, epilepsy, tumors, etc., should avoid consuming it to prevent their condition from worsening.
In addition to being eaten as a vegetable, Professor Yang Li also recommends other wonderful uses for toon sprouts.
For example, drinking water infused with toon leaves can refresh the mind and promote urination, helping to relieve springtime drowsiness. When a child's rash does not fully appear, a decoction of 10 grams of coriander and 10 grams of toon can be used for external washing to help the rash come out. When toon sprouts are in abundance in the spring, you can also save some and let them dry. Due to their unique fragrance, dried toon sprouts can be placed in a cupboard to prevent insects and mold.
Related link: The only drawback of toon sprouts is that they contain a relatively high amount of nitrites. Therefore, it is best to blanch them in boiling water first before washing them to effectively remove the nitrites. It is also advisable to eat as little pickled toon as possible.