What is suitable to eat during the Spring Equinox in 2020? What are the traditional foods during the Spring Equinox?

After the Spring Equinox, the temperature will gradually rise, and the daytime hours in China will gradually become longer. There will be occasional cold snaps at this time, but overall it is still very warm and people will feel particularly comfortable. The Spring Equinox is one of the traditional solar terms. In addition to doing some farming activities, some seasonal foods can also be eaten.

What to eat during the Spring Equinox in 2020

1. Spring Bamboo Shoots

Spring bamboo shoots refer to bamboo shoots harvested after the beginning of spring. At this time, the bamboo shoots are plump, tender, jade-like in color, and refreshing. They can be eaten cold, stir-fried, or used to make soup, and they are all very delicious.

Spring bamboo shoots are rich in plant protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other essential nutrients and trace elements for the human body, and they are particularly high in fiber.

Before cooking spring bamboo shoots, they must be blanched in boiling water to remove their astringency.

Spring bamboo shoots themselves have a very light taste, so they are suitable for pairing with various ingredients. Hotels usually use spring bamboo shoots to make some big dishes, such as: braised shad with spring bamboo shoots, white chicken with spring bamboo shoots, stewed spring bamboo shoots with wine, spring bamboo shoots with wolfberries, and braised meat with spring bamboo shoots.

The method at home is much simpler. In Jiangnan, it is popular to stir-fry pickled snow mustard greens with spring bamboo shoots, which tastes fragrant.

2. Mustard Greens

Mustard greens are very nutritious, including carotene, potassium, calcium, vitamins, protein and dietary fiber.

Mustard greens can relieve symptoms of urination, soothe the lungs and resolve phlegm, promote bowel movement and appetite, and refresh the mind. The Spring Equinox is the time when mustard greens are available in large quantities.

Mustard greens can be stir-fried, served cold, or made into mustard green rice. The taste of mustard greens is slightly bitter, but has a long aftertaste.

3. Amaranthus

Amaranthus, also known as Amaranthus, red stem vegetable, field chrysanthemum, etc., is a wild vegetable that is popular among the public. It is rich in various nutrients, mineral elements, vitamins and β-carotene, as well as more than 17 kinds of amino acids.

The medicinal value of Amaranthus is very high. It has the effects of clearing away heat and detoxifying, eliminating food accumulation, promoting urination, dispersing blood stasis and stopping bleeding. It can treat vomiting blood, nosebleeds, purpura, traumatic bleeding, jaundice, diarrhea, edema, colds, sore throat, carbuncle, hemorrhoids and erysipelas.

How to eat Amaranthus: Wash the rhizomes, blanch them and then eat.

Amaranth mixed with dried tofu and stir-fried Amaranth are both common home-cooked dishes among the people, and dumplings made with Amaranth are also very delicious.

4. Chrysanthemum

Artemisia chrysanthemum is also known as: Artemisia selengensis, Chrysanthemum vegetable, Artemisia tung flower vegetable. In ancient times, Artemisia selengensis was a royal delicacy, so it was called "Emperor's vegetable".

Chrysanthemum chrysanthemum is rich in vitamin C, carotene, amino acids and cellulose.

Chrysanthemum has the effects of resting the body and strengthening the brain, regulating the stomach and spleen, lowering blood pressure and nourishing the brain, and reducing swelling and diuresis. Chrysanthemum can treat cough and sputum, spleen and stomach disharmony, memory loss, and can also promote appetite and lower cholesterol.

The main ways to cook Chinese spinach are stir-frying or mixing it with cold dishes. It can also be fried with eggs. The taste is unique, fragrant and refreshing.

In addition to seasonal vegetables, you should also drink more soups during the Spring Equinox, such as chicken soup, old duck soup, corn and pork ribs soup, kelp and pork ribs soup, etc. In addition, you should eat some red dates, longan and peanut soup in moderation, and eat more leeks, garlic sprouts, coriander and other foods.

What are the traditional foods during the Spring Equinox?

Sticky bird mouth

Actually, it is glutinous rice balls. Every family eats glutinous rice balls on the Spring Equinox. They will cook a dozen or twenty glutinous rice balls and stick them with thin bamboo forks and place them on the edge of the field outside. The meaning is to "beg" the sparrows not to destroy the crops in the new year.

Eat spring vegetables

"Spring vegetables" is a kind of wild amaranth, which the locals call "Spring Green Artemisia". Eating spring vegetables is an important custom in Lingnan during the Spring Equinox, which is a yearning for peace. You can find them in the fields, tender green, very thin, the size of a palm. "Spring soup cleanses the internal organs and the liver and intestines. The whole family, young and old, is safe and healthy."

Sun Cake

It is mainly found in Beijing, meaning "the sun is high". It is a festive food and is also used as a tribute.

In the old days, on the birthday of the Sun God, traditional folks would hold temple fairs to celebrate and put out "Sun Cakes". But after the "Sun Palace" that enshrined the Sun God was demolished, the Sun Cake gradually faded out of folk customs. It has only recently become popular again because of traditional culture.

It is usually made of glutinous rice, with date paste as the filling, white melon seeds and secret osmanthus, and printed with a sun stamp.

Donkey Roll

Donkey rolls are a traditional Beijing food, also known as bean flour cakes. They are made by steaming yellow rice flour with water, and then coated with a layer of yellow soybean powder. They are stuffed with various flavors, such as red bean paste, taro, blueberry, hawthorn, etc.

What should you pay attention to during the Spring Equinox diet?

Avoid salty foods such as salted fish, bacon, mustard, and salted eggs. These foods can cause the body to retain water and sodium, which can easily aggravate the symptoms of patients with hypertension.

Avoid eating all kinds of raw melons, fruits, ice cream, frozen drinks, etc. This kind of cold food will hinder the spleen and stomach, is not conducive to the transportation of water and moisture, and can accumulate damp phlegm.

Avoid spicy, pungent, and irritating foods, such as chili, curry, pepper, mutton, dog meat, onion, white wine, etc. These foods are easy to dry, increase the viscosity of sputum, and can damage lung yin.