The winter solstice is the watershed in the cold winter. The weather is cold and the ground is freezing, and the body's resistance is gradually weakening. There is an old saying: "If you don't eat sour foods during the winter solstice, you'll walk like a duck." This sentence conveys that people need to avoid eating too acidic foods at this special moment of the winter solstice to avoid affecting their health. However, after the winter solstice, it is the time when we need to consume some sour foods. Sour food can not only increase appetite, but also help promote metabolism and enhance immunity, providing strong support for us to survive the cold winter. At this moment, let us learn about five sour foods and live a healthy and warm winter.
1. Tomato:
Tomato is a fruit rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, and is known as the "King of Fruits". It has a sour and refreshing taste. It not only provides enough vitamin C to enhance immunity, but is also rich in lycopene, which helps to resist oxidation and protect cardiovascular health. Eating more tomatoes in winter can help regulate the acid-base balance in the body and maintain good physical condition.
Recommended recipe: Borscht
Ingredients: 200 grams of chicken breast or chicken legs; 50 grams of ham or bacon; 1 onion; 1 carrot; 1 potato; 1 celery; 100 cauliflower or cauliflower grams; 2 tomatoes; 2 spoons of tomato paste; 1 liter of broth or chicken stock; 2 spoons of flour; 100 ml of milk; appropriate amount of olive oil; appropriate amount of salt and pepper
Steps:
1. Cut chicken breast or chicken legs into pieces Cut into small pieces, slice ham or bacon and set aside.
2. Cut onions, carrots, potatoes, and celery into small dices, cut cauliflower or cauliflower into small florets, and cut tomatoes into cubes and set aside.
3. Add appropriate amount of olive oil to the pot, fry the chicken pieces and ham or bacon until golden brown, remove and set aside.
4. Add onions, carrots, potatoes, and celery to the same pot and stir-fry for a while.
5. Add broth or chicken stock, stewed chicken and ham or bacon into the pot.
6. Add cauliflower or cauliflower and tomato pieces to the pot and continue to simmer.
7. Stir the flour and milk in a small bowl, stir well, add to the pot, and boil until the soup thickens.
8. Add tomato paste, season with salt and pepper, and boil for a while.
Warm reminder:
1) The ingredients of borscht can be adjusted according to personal taste. You can add other vegetables or change the combination of meat.
2) Clear soup or chicken stock can improve the taste of the soup. If there is no stock, plain water will also work.
3) The combination of chicken and ham or bacon will make the soup more delicious, and other meats can be substituted.
2. Hawthorn:
Hawthorn is known as the "fruit for improving eyesight". It is not only rich in vitamin C, but also rich in organic acids and cellulose. Hawthorn has the function of strengthening the spleen, eliminating food, and aiding digestion, which can help relieve the problem of indigestion in winter. Its sour taste can promote saliva secretion and increase appetite, making it an ideal choice for appetizing and digestion in winter.
Recommended recipe: Hawthorn grapefruit tea
Ingredients: 50 grams of dried hawthorn; 1 grapefruit; appropriate amount of rock sugar; appropriate amount of water
Steps:
1. Wash the dried hawthorn, peel and seed the grapefruit, and cut it into small pieces .
2. Add appropriate amount of water to the pot, add dried hawthorn and grapefruit pieces.
3. After boiling over high heat, reduce to low heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the hawthorn and grapefruit are cooked.
4. Add appropriate amount of rock sugar, continue stirring until the sugar is completely melted, and boil for a while.
5. After turning off the heat, let the tea cool slightly, and then filter the tea liquid to remove the residue.
6. Pour the filtered hawthorn grapefruit tea into a cup. You can drink it hot or refrigerate it and drink it iced.
Warm reminder:
1) You can add an appropriate amount of rock sugar to the hawthorn grapefruit tea according to your personal taste. If you like it sweeter, you can increase the amount appropriately.
2) The time for brewing tea can be adjusted according to personal taste. The longer the tea is brewed, the stronger the flavor will be.
3) If you like a refreshing taste, you can add a few slices of ginger when boiling to enhance the flavor of the tea.
4) The grapefruit peel is rich in aromatic substances. You can cut the grapefruit peel into thin strips and add it to the tea to add aroma.
5) This tea is suitable for drinking in cold weather, it helps to warm the body, and can also be used as a refreshing drink to relieve heat.
3. Oranges:
Oranges are a classic winter fruit, sweet and sour, rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber. Vitamin C helps enhance immune system function and has a certain protective effect against colds and viruses. In addition, oranges are rich in antioxidants, which help slow down the aging process and keep skin healthy.
Recommended recipe: Orange jam with peel
Ingredients: 4 oranges with peel; 1 cup of fine sugar; 1 cup of water; 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Steps:
1. Clean the oranges and cut off two pieces with a knife Pick up the orange and make 4-6 cuts on the orange skin without cutting into the orange flesh.
2. Cut the orange into thin slices. You can choose to remove the seeds or keep them, depending on your personal taste.
3. Put the orange slices into the pot, add fine sugar and water.
4. Turn up the heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and continue stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.
5. After the oranges become transparent and cooked, add lemon juice and stir evenly.
6. Cook the sauce until it thickens, taking care to prevent it from sticking to the bottom while stirring.
7. Turn off the cooked orange jam, cool it slightly, put it into a clean glass jar, and seal it for storage.
Warm reminder:
1) When boiling orange slices, you can add an appropriate amount of water to ensure that the oranges can be fully soaked in the sugar water.
2) The sweetness of the marmalade can be adjusted according to personal taste. If you like it sweeter, you can increase the amount of sugar.
3) Adding lemon juice can enhance the taste of the sauce and make it fresher.
4) Store the marmalade in a clean, airtight glass jar in a cool place to extend its shelf life.
5) This orange jam is suitable for spreading on bread, paired with yogurt, and added to sweet and sour salads. It has a sweet and delicious taste.
4. Vinegar:
Vinegar is a common condiment, and the acetic acid in it can promote metabolism and increase appetite. In the cold winter, moderate intake of vinegar can help speed up the body's metabolism, increase body temperature, and help resist the effects of cold weather on the body. In addition, vinegar also helps regulate the acid-base balance in the body and maintain good health.
Recommended recipe: Braised cabbage in vinegar
Ingredients: 1 Chinese cabbage; 1 green pepper (optional); appropriate amount of ginger; appropriate amount of garlic; appropriate amount of cooking oil; appropriate amount of vinegar; appropriate amount of light soy sauce; appropriate amount of salt; appropriate amount of sugar
Steps :
1. Wash the Chinese cabbage, cut into chunks, and cut the green pepper into shreds and set aside.
2. Add appropriate amount of cooking oil to the pot, add ginger slices and minced garlic and stir-fry until fragrant.
3. Add the chopped Chinese cabbage cubes, stir-fry quickly and evenly.
4. Add appropriate amount of salt and sugar, and continue to stir-fry until the cabbage becomes soft.
5. Pour in an appropriate amount of vinegar, then add an appropriate amount of light soy sauce, and continue to stir-fry evenly.
6. Finally add shredded green pepper and stir-fry evenly.
Warm reminder:
1) The amount of vinegar can be adjusted according to personal taste. If you like it more sour, you can add more vinegar.
2) The addition of sugar can neutralize the sour taste of vinegar and make the dishes more delicious. The amount of sugar can be adjusted according to personal taste.
3) The use of light soy sauce can be determined according to personal taste. If you like it saltier, you can add more light soy sauce.
4) Stir fry quickly to maintain the crisp and tender texture of the cabbage.
5) You can add some coriander or chopped peanuts according to personal preference to enhance the taste.
5. Mutton:
Mutton has the effect of warming the body, repelling cold and keeping warm, and is a good choice for nourishment in winter. Mutton is rich in protein, iron, zinc and other nutrients, which helps improve immunity and enhance physical strength. The taste of mutton is slightly sweet and sour. After eating, it helps warm the gastrointestinal tract and provides enough calories. It is one of the health foods in winter.
Recommended recipe: braised mutton
Ingredients: 500 grams of mutton (shoulder or leg); appropriate amount of ginger; appropriate amount of garlic; appropriate amount of green garlic; appropriate amount of cooking wine; appropriate amount of light soy sauce; appropriate amount of dark soy sauce; appropriate amount of rock sugar; 2-3 star anise 1 piece of cinnamon bark; 2 bay leaves; appropriate amount of salt; appropriate amount of cooking oil
Steps:
1. Cut the mutton into pieces, rinse with water and set aside.
2. Add appropriate amount of cooking oil to the pot, put the mutton pieces into the hot oil and stir-fry until the surface is golden brown.
3. Add ginger slices, garlic, star anise, cinnamon and bay leaves and stir-fry until fragrant.
4. Add appropriate amount of cooking wine and simmer for a while to make the mutton stew more flavorful.
5. Add appropriate amount of light soy sauce and dark soy sauce to adjust color and seasoning.
6. Add appropriate amount of rock sugar to make the soup sweeter.
7. Add enough water, cover the pot, turn to low heat and simmer until the mutton becomes crispy.
8. Finally add appropriate amount of salt and adjust the taste according to personal taste.
9. Sprinkle some green garlic segments to enhance the aroma and serve.
Warm reminder:
1) Lamb can be blanched in boiling water before stewing to remove the blood and make the soup clearer.
2) The addition of cooking wine can remove the fishy smell and enhance the freshness.
3) Star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves are the spices for braised mutton. They can be increased or decreased according to personal taste.
4) When stewing, the heat should be controlled well. Keep the heat low and simmer slowly to make the mutton delicious and crispy.
5) Eat it with rice or steamed buns to better reflect the deliciousness of braised lamb.
Winter is the season when our bodies need extra care, and eating more sour foods at this time will inject vitality into our bodies. Whether it is tomatoes and hawthorns rich in vitamin C, refreshing and appetizing oranges, vinegar to adjust the acid-base balance in the body, or lamb rich in nutrients, they are all ideal choices for the winter table. These sour foods not only help improve immunity, but also increase the body's adaptability to cold environments. After this winter solstice, let us join hands to welcome a healthy and warm winter, let sour food become the guardian of our body, and inject a touch of warm color into the cold season.
Nanxun loves cooking
