On March 20th, when the sun reached 0 degrees of the ecliptic, we welcomed the fourth solar term of spring - the vernal equinox. The sun, moon, sun, and yin are both present in the sky, and the black bird does not shy away from the peach blossom and cold. ”Spring equinox, the colors of spring are parted from here, and the meaning of spring is strong from now on. At this time, the weather is warm, with peach and plum blossoms competing for beauty, rapeseed splashing gold, thousands of branches competing for beauty, and all things are magnificent. A thriving spring painting is unfolding towards us. Eating fresh and tasting spring, not letting down the meaning of spring. "At the vernal equinox, there is a balance between yin and yang, so the day and night are balanced and the cold and heat are calm. ”Liu Jianqiao, Deputy Chief Physician of the Proctology Department at Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Capital Medical University, introduced that during the Spring Equinox season, day and night are evenly distributed, with a balance between cold and heat, and the Yin Yang energy in nature tends to be balanced. However, due to the variable temperature and unpredictable temperature at this time, the human body is prone to yin-yang imbalance, often manifested as liver qi being too strong, prone to internal heat, irritability, dizziness, and dry eyes; The humidity gradually rises, the body becomes tired, the spirit is low, and spring fatigue is obvious; The temperature fluctuates between cold and hot, and can also cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal discomfort, constipation, and dry mouth. Therefore, the core of spring equinox health preservation lies in harmonizing yin and yang, valuing harmony, and maintaining a peaceful period. It is recommended to follow the principle of "nourishing yang in spring and summer", focusing on nurturing yang qi while also taking into account nourishing yin; Diet should be balanced according to one's own constitution, with a reasonable combination of ingredients, taking into account both cold and hot yin and yang, and maintaining a balanced diet. Eating fresh food and tasting spring during the Spring Equinox is a long-standing tradition among the people. Seasonal vegetables such as shepherd's purse, chives, lettuce, etc. are most fresh, tender, and delicious at this time. With just one bite, you can taste the lush spring atmosphere. Among many spring vegetables, shepherd's purse is considered a delicacy. Shepherd's purse is a fresh wild vegetable that was the first to declare spring and has long been regarded as a treasure among wild vegetables. In the Book of Songs, there is a chant: "Who says that tea is bitter? It is as sweet as shepherd's purse." The Compendium of Materia Medica records that "shepherd's purse is called shepherd's purse because of its vigorous vitality and abundant growth everywhere. Xin Qiji's poem goes: "Peach and plum trees in the city are worried about wind and rain, and spring is with shepherd's purse flowers at the stream head." While the delicate flowers and trees in the city are still disturbed by wind and rain, shepherd's purse flowers at the stream head have quietly bloomed to announce spring - this is the character of shepherd's purse, not choosing soil or water, not afraid of wind and rain, blooming the greenery of life in ordinary corners. Since ancient times, literati and literati have often recited poems about shepherd's purse, expressing their love for it beyond words. When Su Shi was demoted to Huangzhou, he wrote in a letter to a friend: "Eating shepherd's purse today is extremely beautiful... If you knew this taste, then the eight treasures of land and sea would all be despicable and disgusting." Lu You also wrote poems for shepherd's purse many times: "After the rain, I first got shepherd's purse, and in the morning, there was precious cooking." "When the remaining snow disappears, the shepherd's purse fills the garden, and the porridge is more beautiful than lamb dolphins." He even "thinks of returning home every day to fill the fern and ivy, and when spring comes, shepherd's purse is beautiful and suddenly forgets to return," fully expressing his preference for shepherd's purse. During the Spring Equinox, there is a delicious dish known as the "number one vegetarian dish" that cannot be missed, which is the Spring Bamboo Shoots. Chinese people have been eating bamboo shoots for more than 3000 years, and there is a record in the Book of Songs that "the bamboo shoots are preserved, and the bamboo shoots and cattails are preserved". Bai Juyi is an expert in eating bamboo shoots. He likes to steam bamboo shoots with rice and even left a famous line to advise bamboo shoots, "Don't hesitate when eating, the south wind blows to make bamboo" - eat bamboo shoots at their freshest and most tender, don't hesitate, after a while, they will grow into inedible bamboo shoots. Zhang Dai, a literati of the late Ming Dynasty, once recorded a spring anecdote in his book "Tianjing Garden": Every spring, a bamboo shoot fishing boat passes by his garden, and the people on board always pick the best big bamboo shoot and throw it to the water, shouting "Fishing for bamboo shoots!" Zhang Dai's gardener then rowed a small boat to fish for it. He described the bamboo shoot as "ivory shaped, white as snow, tender as lotus root, sweet as sugarcane frost", which is mouth watering. As the saying goes, 'Eating spring vegetables is the key to understanding the taste of spring.'. In spring, when you eat fresh food, you taste the freshness that has just been pulled out of the soil - the vibrant vitality is about to emerge from chewing. Clear the liver and clear the turbidity, harmonize the nature and taste. "Fresh food in spring is precious when eaten at the right time. ”Liu Jianqiao said that a dish of stir fried pork shreds with shepherd's purse and spring bamboo shoots is a seasonal delicacy that is in line with the weather. It is made by combining shepherd's purse, spring bamboo shoots, and pork tenderloin, with a refreshing and delicious taste, and also has nourishing effects, which meets the health needs of spring. As a "star ingredient" on spring dining tables, shepherd's purse has been highly regarded for its health benefits since ancient times. Liu Jianqiao introduced that shepherd's purse not only has high vitamin C content, but also is rich in carotenoids, various minerals, and more than ten amino acids, with high nutritional value. It is also a natural medicine. There is a saying in folk culture that "on the third day of the third lunar month, shepherd's purse is the elixir of spirit". In the Hangzhou area of Zhejiang Province, there is a custom of "wearing shepherd's purse flowers and cooking shepherd's purse eggs". People call shepherd's purse flowers "bright eyed flowers" and believe that they can improve eyesight, ward off evil, and dispel diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that shepherd's purse has a sweet and mild taste and a mild nature. It can cool blood, stop bleeding, clear heat and dampness, calm the liver and improve vision. It is particularly suitable for problems such as eye dryness and deficiency fire caused by excessive liver qi during the Spring Equinox season. Spring bamboo shoots are also seasonal gifts. Liu Jianqiao explained that spring bamboo shoots have a sweet taste and a cold nature. They can "benefit the nine orifices, promote blood circulation, reduce phlegm and saliva, and relieve food bloating". They are good at clearing heat and phlegm, promoting diaphragmatic and refreshing stomach, clearing turbidity and promoting stagnation. They help to eliminate the greasy and thick flavors that accumulate in the body during winter, reduce the burden on the spleen and stomach, and promote the rise of yang energy. They are especially suitable for relieving discomfort caused by dampness and evil that hinder the spleen and stomach in spring. Pork has a mild nature and a sweet taste. When it enters the spleen, stomach, and kidney meridians, it can nourish the middle and qi, nourish the spleen and stomach, and moisturize the organs. ”Liu Jianqiao said that shepherd's purse can clear the liver, spring bamboo shoots can clear turbidity, and pork can strengthen the body. These three ingredients complement each other and can not only clear the "fire" caused by excessive liver qi, but also relieve the "dampness" accumulated by dampness obstructing the spleen and stomach. They can also nourish yin and moisten dryness to cope with the "dryness" of spring. Therefore, it is suitable for people with various physical conditions: those with damp heat constitution (prone to acne, bitter mouth, yellow and greasy tongue coating), yin deficiency constitution (dry mouth, easy to cause internal heat, hot hands and feet), qi stagnation constitution (chest tightness, sighing, emotional discomfort), and mild phlegm dampness constitution (heavy body fatigue, greasy and unpleasant) can consume it in moderation. It is also a good choice for people who stay up late and use their eyes frequently, those who are prone to internal heat and constipation in spring, elderly and children with normal spleen and stomach, and those who need to lose fat and control weight. It should be noted that the following groups of people should consume or avoid it with caution. ”Liu Jianqiao stated that individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold often exhibit symptoms such as stomach pain, fear of cold, diarrhea, and loose stools. However, spring bamboo shoots and shepherd's purse tend to be cooler and may worsen symptoms of abdominal pain and diarrhea after consumption; People with allergies and skin disease outbreaks may experience itching, eczema, and urticaria due to the fact that spring bamboo shoots belong to the "organic matter" category; Kidney disease, stones, and oxalic acid sensitive individuals should not eat too much, as spring bamboo shoots contain a high amount of oxalic acid, which may increase the burden on the body; Elderly people with weak digestive ability or postoperative physical weakness also need to be cautious when eating. The crude fiber in bamboo shoots is difficult to digest and may increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. Blanching water to remove astringency is a rare technique to enhance the spring flavor and health benefits of stir frying shepherd's purse, spring bamboo shoots, and shredded meat. Every step from selecting ingredients to cooking requires attention to detail. Let's talk about material selection first. Liu Jianqiao introduced that shepherd's purse should be chosen with a bright green color, white roots, and straight leaves to be fresh and lively; Spring bamboo shoots should have light yellow shells, full and compact bodies, and white incisions, which are the most fresh and tender; As for pork, the preferred choice is pork tenderloin or front leg lean meat, which is the most tender and will not be cooked for a long time. Pre treatment is key when cooking. ”Liu Jianqiao reminds that after washing shepherd's purse, it should be quickly blanched in boiling water for 10 seconds, taken out and cooled, squeezed dry, and then chopped. The step of blanching cannot be skipped. It can not only remove oxalic acid and astringency, neutralize coldness, nourish the spleen and stomach, but also make shepherd's purse greener in color and clearer in aroma. The processing of spring bamboo shoots should also be meticulous: after peeling and cutting into shreds, they need to be boiled in cold water with a little salt for 2-3 minutes, then removed and drained. This helps to eliminate astringency and oxalate, reduce irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, and lower the risk of stones. Cut the shredded meat finely and marinate it with salt, soy sauce, starch, and a little oil for five minutes to firmly retain moisture. Stir fry until smooth, tender, and delicious. Once everything is ready, you can start firing the hot pot. Liu Jianqiao said that the essence of this dish lies in stir frying over high heat. Add a small amount of oil to the pot and stir fry the shredded meat until it changes color before serving; Using base oil to saut é ginger shreds and scallions until fragrant - ginger is tender and warm, which can neutralize the slight coldness of shepherd's purse and spring shoots, warm the stomach and dispel coldness. Then pour in shredded spring bamboo shoots and stir fry quickly. Next, add shepherd's purse and shredded meat, add a little salt and a little sugar to enhance the flavor. Stir fry on high heat for several seconds before serving. Avoid prolonged cooking, heavy oil, and thickening throughout the process, and strive to maintain the freshness, tenderness, and freshness of the ingredients. This dish can be flexibly adjusted according to the different constitutions of family members. Liu Jianqiao introduced that people with spleen and stomach deficiency cold can add a few more slices of ginger and sprinkle a little white pepper powder before serving, which can warm the middle and dispel cold; People who are troubled by stones or sensitive to oxalic acid must extend the blanching time of spring bamboo shoots or replace them with asparagus or lettuce; Elderly people and children have weak digestive abilities, so they can cut the bamboo shoots into finer pieces and cook them for a while longer to make the meat more tender. If you don't eat pork, you can use chicken breast, eggs or shrimp instead, which are equally fresh and delicious. During the Spring Equinox season, stir frying shrimp with fresh bamboo shoots is also a great seasonal dish. ”Liu Jianqiao introduced that the most tender pointed bamboo shoots should be selected, peeled and sliced, and blanched to remove astringency; Mix the shrimp with egg white, cooking wine, salt, and a little starch, and marinate for a while. Hot pot and cold oil, ginger slices and scallions burst out with fragrance, shrimp quickly stir fry in the pot, wait for it to change color and curl, immediately pour in blanched bamboo shoots and pre soaked fungus, stir fry over high heat a few times, sprinkle salt and pepper powder, stir fry evenly, and then remove from the pot. The crispness of spring bamboo shoots meets the elasticity of shrimp teeth, and the freshness is just right in the light. Shrimp has a sweet and warm taste, enters the liver and kidney meridians, can tonify the kidneys and promote yang, stimulate appetite and reduce phlegm; Bamboo shoots have a sweet taste and a slightly cold nature. They are good at clearing heat, resolving phlegm, relieving swelling, and penetrating rashes. One warm and one cold, one meat and one vegetable, balanced in nature and taste, with the effects of promoting hair growth, enhancing qi circulation, harmonizing the stomach, warming yang, and nourishing the kidneys. Especially suitable for those who pay attention to control and management, regulate blood lipids, and care about cardiovascular health. (New Society)