[Medicinal Recipes] For days when your body feels heavy and sluggish due to humidity and heat. 2 recommended medicinal meals
This time of year, with the combination of humidity and heat, it is easy to feel heavy and sluggish, or experience a loss of appetite.
In medicinal cooking, this type of discomfort caused by humidity is considered to be Shitsuja (dampness evil).
Shitsuja refers to a state where excess moisture accumulates in the body, easily causing swelling, indigestion, and a heavy, sluggish feeling.
During such a season, it is recommended to incorporate ingredients that help the digestive system while flushing out excess moisture.
This time, I will introduce two medicinal recipes that are perfect for the hot season.
1. Winter melon, Job's tears, and chicken breast soup for humidity relief
Cooking tips
Winter melon and Job's tears are ingredients considered to help flush out excess moisture accumulated in the body.
By adding ginger, the soup does not cool the body too much, making it easy to eat even in the hot season.
Ingredients (for 2 people)
Winter melon... 300g
Chicken breast... 150g
Job's tears (dried, pre-boiled)... 3 tablespoons
Ginger... 1 piece (julienned)
Japanese ginger (myoga)... 1 piece
Kombu dashi... 600ml
Salt... 1/2 teaspoon or to taste
Soy sauce... 1 teaspoon or to taste
Instructions
1. Peel the winter melon thickly, remove the seeds and pith, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
2. Slice the chicken breast thinly, and season with a little sake and salt (not listed in ingredients).
3. Put the kelp stock and ginger in a pot, bring to a boil, and add the winter melon.
4. Simmer for about 10 minutes until the winter melon becomes translucent.
5. Add the chicken and pearl barley, and simmer for another 5 minutes.
6. Adjust the seasoning with salt and soy sauce.
7. Serve in a bowl, top with shredded Japanese ginger (myoga), and it is ready.
If you don't have all the ingredients
Winter melon → Daikon radish, zucchini, cucumber
Pearl barley → Glutinous barley, pressed barley
Japanese ginger (myoga) → Shiso leaves, green onions
*Since cucumber and zucchini cook quickly, be careful not to overcook them.
2. Corn, edamame, and pork stir-fry for humidity relief
Cooking tips
Corn and edamame are ingredients considered to help digestive function and prevent the body from retaining excess moisture.
By combining them with pork, this dish replenishes moisture to a body tired from the heat and is recommended for preventing summer fatigue.
Ingredients (for 2 servings)
Corn... 1 ear
Edamame (boiled and shelled)... 100g
Pork pieces... 150g
Garlic... 1 clove (minced)
Red chili pepper (sliced into rounds) ... a little to taste
Sesame oil ... 1 tablespoon
Sake ... 1 tablespoon or more
Soy sauce ... 1 tablespoon or more
Salt and pepper ... a little
Instructions
1. Remove the corn kernels from the cob.
2. Put sesame oil, garlic, and red chili pepper in a frying pan and heat over low heat to release the aroma.
3. Add the pork and stir-fry over medium heat.
4. Once the meat changes color, add the corn and stir-fry.
5. When the corn is cooked, add the edamame and stir-fry briefly together.
6. Season with sake, soy sauce, salt, and pepper, and it is ready.
If you don't have all the ingredients
Corn → Frozen corn
Edamame → Frozen edamame, fava beans, or green peas
Pork → Chicken breast or thick fried tofu (atsuage)
*If you do not like meat, we also recommend substituting with thick fried tofu.
Points to note when eating
Medicinal cooking is a health method that is easy to incorporate into daily meals, but there are ingredients that may or may not suit you depending on your constitution and physical condition.
To enjoy it with peace of mind, please keep the following points in mind.
If you are pregnant, please be mindful of the amount of pearl barley you consume, and consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Since winter melon and pearl barley have cooling properties, if you are concerned about feeling cold, we recommend adding a little extra ginger.
If you have an underlying medical condition, are currently undergoing treatment, or have concerns about your health, please consult a doctor or specialist rather than relying on your own judgment.
Summary
This time of year is a season when the effects of humidity and heat can easily make your body feel heavy and sluggish, or cause a loss of appetite.
At such times, try incorporating warm dishes made with seasonal ingredients to take care of your digestive system.
The soup and stir-fry introduced here are both easy to make with familiar ingredients and are medicinal recipes that can be easily incorporated into your daily meals.
You might feel that medicinal cooking is difficult, but choosing seasonal ingredients and adjusting your meals to match your physical condition for the day is also one of the concepts of medicinal cooking.
There is no need to aim for perfection every day.
Let's incorporate what we can, little by little, and get through the hot summer in good health.
When your appetite drops due to the summer heat, it is also recommended to be creative with your drinks, not just your meals.
Please also take a look at the "How to make craft cola" that we introduced previously.
Thank you for reading until the end.