Introduction: In the summer heat, many people lose their appetite, making light, refreshing, and simple cold dishes the stars of the dining table. This time, I'm recommending a few cold dishes perfect for summer.
Cold Cucumber Salad. Cucumber is the best food for hydration in the summer, having the highest water content of all foods. It contains cucurbitacin, which has anti-cancer properties. Additionally, cucumber is cooling in nature and has the effects of clearing heat, promoting urination, and detoxification. Cucumber is perfect for cold dishes, such as cucumber with wood ear fungus or garlic cucumber salad.
Cold Lotus Root Slices. In "Compendium of Materia Medica," lotus root is called the "spiritual root." Eating crisp, sweet lotus root slices on hot days not only whets the appetite and is refreshing but also helps to reduce internal heat and moisten dryness. After being blanched, the nature of lotus root changes from cool to warm, making it beneficial for nourishing the stomach and spleen. Ginger juice lotus root slices are an excellent choice.
Cold Shredded Potato Salad. Potatoes are not only rich in potassium but also essential minerals like calcium and zinc, as well as nutrients like vitamin C. In summer, when you sweat a lot, eating potatoes can help replenish nutrients. Furthermore, potatoes are rich in dietary fiber, which promotes gastrointestinal motility and accelerates cholesterol metabolism in the intestines, aiding bowel movements and lowering cholesterol. Compared to stir-frying, blanching potatoes and serving them cold results in a crisp and delicious texture, as in vinegar-marinated shredded potatoes.
Cold Bitter Melon Salad. The momordicin and insulin-like substances in bitter melon have a good effect on lowering blood sugar, making it an ideal food for diabetics. Momordicin and bitter principles can also stimulate the appetite, invigorate the spleen and stomach, and have therapeutic effects such as improving eyesight, aiding digestion, cooling and detoxifying, and promoting urination. A plate of cold bitter melon is a great choice on a scorching summer day.
Finally, it's worth noting that apart from cucumber, the other dishes should be blanched in boiling water. After draining, you can season them according to your taste with salt, vinegar, garlic, etc.