After the Start of Winter, all things enter a dormant state as the temperature drops, heralding the arrival of winter. This is also considered the best time for nourishment in traditional health preservation: eat well, and have a good winter. How to eat well, nourish well, and absorb well during the Start of Winter requires some consideration in the choice of ingredients and cooking methods. Don't let the sudden drop in temperature make you lazy; get started and prepare for a warm winter. On the Start of Winter, you must eat well.
Lamb and Radish Stew
With the new round of cold snaps across the country, the chill of winter is even more pronounced. In this cold weather when the north has snow and the south has rain, it is especially important to add more heat to your body. If we're talking about a warming supplement, lamb is the top choice. Lamb and radish stew is an indispensable delicacy during the Start of Winter. This dish not only satisfies your appetite but also has a very good therapeutic effect on people with sore waist and knees, lethargy, fatigue, kidney deficiency, impotence, and a weak spleen and stomach. Because lamb can resist wind and cold, and white radish is known as "little ginseng" and the first choice for replenishing qi. The method is also very simple: just put the chopped lamb and white radish in a pot together with seasonings, and cook until tender, then you can enjoy it.
Wood Ear Mushroom, Chinese Yam, and Lettuce Stir-fry
For those who don't like food that is too greasy, the lamb and radish stew might seem too heavy. No problem, the editor will now introduce a light dish: wood ear mushroom, Chinese yam, and lettuce stir-fry. Black wood ear mushrooms are very rich in iron. Eating them often can nourish and replenish blood, so you won't feel cold even in winter; in addition, wood ear mushrooms contain gelatin, which can concentrate and absorb dust and impurities in the body's digestive system and expel them, playing a role in cleansing the intestines and detoxifying. Chinese yam has a high content of cellulose and provides a large amount of mucin protein, which can reduce the accumulation of subcutaneous fat, and is also very good for the spleen and stomach when eaten regularly.
Walnut, Red Ginseng, and Partridge Stew
Everyone probably knows that walnuts have the effect of blackening hair. Red ginseng is also a superior tonic, and partridge is a bird that lives in the mountain bushes and grasslands of the south. It especially loves to eat the bitter seedlings of Pinellia ternata, so its meat has the function of resolving phlegm. The delicious walnut, red ginseng, and partridge stew, slowly simmered over a low flame with these three ingredients, has the effects of warming the lungs and replenishing qi, nourishing the brain and enhancing intelligence, tonifying the kidneys and securing essence, and nourishing the liver and blackening hair. It is especially suitable for nourishing the body this season.
Longan and Egg Custard
In addition to dishes, soups are also good winter nourishment food. Longan is a common dried fruit that not only nourishes yin and blood, but also calms the mind. It is also helpful for blood deficiency headaches, palpitations and insomnia, and memory loss. Eggs are rich in protein and nutrients the body needs. Stewing these two foods together is both nutritious and tonic, and it's fine to have for breakfast. But a reminder to everyone: longan is a "hot" food and should not be eaten for long periods.
Black Sesame Porridge
If there are people with a weak constitution in the house, it is not advisable to use strong tonics; a gentle supplement is more suitable, and black sesame porridge is a good choice. Black sesame not only has the effect of blackening hair, but can also nourish the liver and kidneys, and nourish the five organs. It is especially effective in helping to nourish the kidneys in winter. When cooking porridge with black sesame, note that it should be ground into a powder before being cooked with japonica rice. First, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and cook into a porridge.
Cistanche and Lamb Porridge
Again with lamb, when put into a porridge, it becomes much milder. After washing the lamb, slice it and put it in a pot with rice and Cistanche to cook. When it's almost done, add a little salt and monosodium glutamate. It is delicious and has the effect of warming the body, strengthening yang, tonifying the kidneys, and replenishing essence. It has a good auxiliary therapeutic effect for some people with cold hands and feet in winter, sore waist and knees, impotence and spermatorrhea, and a sallow complexion due to kidney deficiency.
Angelica, Ginger, and Lamb Soup
When winter comes, many women with a cold constitution can't quite handle it. Their own ability to resist the cold is poor, and the weather outside is very cold. What can be done? Have a bowl of angelica, ginger, and lamb soup. Observant people will notice that all the ingredients in this soup are "hot" foods: angelica to warm the uterus, ginger to induce sweating, and lamb to generate heat. It will guarantee that after you drink it, your complexion will no longer be pale and your hands and feet will no longer be cold. The method is not difficult: wash the lamb, cut it into small pieces, add angelica, ginger, Shaoxing wine, and seasonings, and simmer for 1-2 hours.
Cold Lotus Root Salad
If you think the cooking methods for the foods introduced above are too difficult, why not try making this cold lotus root salad with the editor. Winter is the peak season for lotus root. The lotus root at this time is fresh and cheap. We might as well buy some back, wash and peel it, then blanch it in hot water for a moment, take it out, slice it, and sprinkle with sugar. It is delicious and refreshing. Lotus root has the function of constricting blood vessels, and eating more can also nourish the lungs and blood. In addition, lotus root contains a lot of dietary fiber, which can also help prevent constipation.