Gourds have the effects of clearing heat, promoting urination to drain dampness, and relieving summer heat. It's good to eat some gourds around the time of the Start of Autumn.
Steamed Loofah to Detoxify and Promote Bowel Movements
Steamed Loofah with Garlic Sauce
Loofah can be eaten from late spring to early autumn. When I was a child, I often helped my mother pick loofah, which we would then stir-fry or make into soup. Even after cooking, the loofah retains a fresh aroma and also has the effects of promoting urination, cooling the blood, and detoxifying the bowels.
For steamed loofah, add some minced meat and garlic and steam until just cooked. Drizzle with a little seafood sauce for a delicious flavor. If you like spicy food, you can add the garlic at the end. Loofah is very juicy, so it's best to cook and eat it immediately. Don't let it sit for too long, otherwise it will turn black and affect the appetite. Additionally, the tender tips of the loofah vine are delicious when cold-dressed or stir-fried with garlic. They are sweet, refreshing, and beneficial for the lungs and skin.
Papaya Stew to Relieve Dryness and Moisten the Bowels
Papaya and Tremella Soup
Besides being eaten as a fruit, papaya can be used to make soup in the fall; it's a very versatile ingredient. I recommend papaya and spare rib soup. Prepare one to two pounds of spare ribs, and about one pound of papaya (peeled, seeded, and cut into small pieces). Discard the scum from the first boiling of the spare ribs. Then, place the papaya, spare ribs, and a little southern almond in a stew pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat. Add a little salt before serving. The soup is light and refreshing, and your family will surely love it.
Papaya soup has a light flavor and can also replenish fluids and relieve dryness. Furthermore, the enzymes rich in papaya can aid digestion, making it suitable for those with constipation and indigestion. For postpartum women, stewing papaya and fish soup can help promote lactation and nourish the body.
Calabash Dumplings to Clear Heat and Stimulate the Appetite
Compared to common dishes like stir-fried calabash with shredded pork or garlic calabash, I prefer making calabash dumplings. Shred the calabash and mix it with a meat filling (such as pork, beef, mutton, or shrimp) to make a delicious filling with a good texture and a well-balanced mix of meat and vegetables.
Calabash is neutral in nature and has the effects of promoting urination to reduce swelling, quenching thirst and relieving irritability, and promoting urination to resolve stagnation. In early autumn, the temperature is still relatively high, and many people have poor appetites. Cooking meat with calabash ensures the intake of vegetables while also increasing protein intake. Calabash is high in carotene, which has a certain antioxidant effect. Additionally, it contains trypsin inhibitors, which inhibit trypsin and can have a certain blood sugar-lowering effect.