In TCM, root vegetables are known for their Qi-replenishing, spleen-strengthening functions. This recipe uses a combination of three root vegetables: beet, daikon radish, and carrot. Nothing is wasted; a savory coconut sauce is made from the green root tops and creamy coconut milk. It brings everything together into a light yet nourishing dish. Beet 甜菜根 TCM Energetics: sweet, slightly cooling, neutral Organ-Meridian Affinity: Heart, Small Intestine, Large Intestine, Liver TCM Functions: benefits the spleen and removes food stagnation; organizes Qi and help with urination; cools heat and detoxifies the liver; tonifies blood Daikon Radish 白萝卜 TCM Energetics: aromatic, sweet, cooling Organ-Meridian...
Tea eggs are a breakfast essential in many parts of China. Growing up in Shanghai, I'd make a stop on the way to school to pick up tea eggs from the local convenience stores or street-side vendors for breakfast. They were so flavorful; the dark-woody fragrance from the spices, the umami flavor from the soy sauce, and the smoky taste from the black tea called to me every morning. I remember helping my grandparents making them at home. My favorite part was to peel the eggs and make slits on them so that the brine could flavor the eggs better. Here is...
Winter melon is a staple at my family's dinner table. We are from Shanghai, where the summer climate is very hot and humid. My grandparents will cook winter melon often because it is able to clears summer heat, promote urination, and reduce phlegm. They add sliced winter melon to broths or braise them in soy sauce and scallion. The texture of winter melon is very unique. When it's raw, it is pretty firm and white; when it's cooked through, it becomes super tender and transparent! You can easily find them in Chinatown or Chinese grocers. Hope you enjoy cooking with...
VEGAN | GLUTEN-FREE | NUT-FREE I was craving for Brussels sprouts recently and I saw it on the menu of three restaurants, all of which made them fried with honey and chili. Brussel sprouts is already a warming ingredient and this kind of cooking adds more heat to the dish and more importantly I can’t deal with chili.... so here’s my sweet-savory-nutty version with sesame oil and seeds. Brussels sprouts are warming, sweet, and aromatic in the perspective of TCM nutrition. It regulates Qi and disperse Cold. It is also an excellent ingredient for liver, as part of the cruciferous vegetable family. It’s full...
