Spring: Goji Leaf Pig Liver Soup —— Soothe the Liver and Improve Eyesight
In spring, everything comes back to life, and the liver becomes very active, making it prone to heatiness. Goji leaves clear the liver and improve eyesight, while pig liver nourishes blood and the liver, making them a perfect match.
- Symptoms: Dry eyes, irritability, spring fatigue
- Ingredients: 150 grams of fresh goji leaves, 100 grams of pig liver, 3 slices of ginger, and appropriate amounts of cooking wine and salt
- Instructions: Slice the pig liver and marinate it with cooking wine for 10 minutes; after boiling water, add ginger slices and pig liver to cook for 2 minutes; then add goji leaves and cook for another minute, adding salt.
- Regulation Principle: According to traditional Chinese medicine, "the liver opens into the eyes." Nourishing the liver in spring helps relieve eye fatigue. Goji leaves clear heat, and pig liver enriches blood, gently enhancing energy levels.
Summer: Winter Melon and Coix Seed Pork Rib Soup —— Clear Heat and Remove Dampness
In summer, heat combined with dampness makes people feel tired and lose appetite. Winter melon promotes diuresis, coix seed removes dampness, and pork ribs provide protein, making this soup refreshing and not greasy.
- Symptoms: Heavy body, acne, dry mouth and tongue
- Ingredients: 300 grams of winter melon (with skin), 30 grams of coix seeds, 200 grams of pork ribs, and appropriate amounts of green onion and ginger
- Instructions: Soak the coix seeds for 2 hours in advance; blanch the pork ribs, then add sufficient water, coix seeds, and ginger and green onion, boil over high heat, then simmer for 40 minutes; add winter melon cubes and continue simmering for 20 minutes, then add salt.
- Regulation Principle: The winter melon peel promotes diuresis, and coix seed strengthens the spleen and removes dampness. Consuming this soup in summer helps eliminate dampness and restore freshness.
Autumn: Silver Ear and Pear Soup —— Moisturize and Nourish the Lungs
Autumn dryness easily harms the lungs, causing coughs and dry skin. Silver ear is rich in gelatin, and pear moistens the lungs. Combined with rock sugar, it provides gentle hydration.
- Symptoms: Dry cough with little phlegm, sore throat, constipation
- Ingredients: Half a dried silver ear, one pear, five red dates, and appropriate amount of rock sugar
- Instructions: Soak the silver ear and tear it into small pieces; cut the pear into chunks without the core; put all ingredients into a pot with sufficient water, boil over high heat, then simmer for 40 minutes until the silver ear becomes soft, then add rock sugar.
- Regulation Principle: Silver ear nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, pear generates body fluids, and red dates enrich blood, gently alleviating autumn dryness.
Winter: Astragalus and Angelica Root Lamb Soup —— Warm Tonifying for Qi and Blood
In winter, it's cold, and the yang energy is stored internally, making it suitable for warm tonification. Astragalus boosts qi, angelica root promotes blood circulation, and lamb warms yang, making this a classic soup for keeping warm.
- Symptoms: Cold hands and feet, aversion to cold, and fatigue
- Ingredients: 500 grams of lamb, 15 grams of astragalus, 5 grams of angelica root, one large piece of ginger, 10 goji berries, and appropriate amount of salt
- Instructions: Cut the lamb into pieces and blanch them; place them together with astragalus, angelica root, and ginger into a clay pot, add sufficient water, boil over high heat, then simmer for 1.5 hours; add goji berries in the last 10 minutes, and add salt.
- Regulation Principle: Astragalus strengthens the spleen and lungs' qi, angelica root enriches blood and promotes circulation, and lamb warms the middle jiao and kidneys. This soup nourishes both qi and blood, warming up the body.
Summary
Seasonal soups made from natural ingredients are simple to prepare. There is no need for expensive herbs; just carefully combine seasonal ingredients to gently nourish the body. From spring to winter, each bowl of soup is a sign of love for family members. Try cooking it once a week and experience the power of dietary therapy.