When the snow falls, the cold wind whistles, and the dryness of winter begins to plague people's health. In this cold winter, we are prone to uncomfortable symptoms such as dry mouth, cough and sore throat, mainly due to insufficient water in the body and dry air. Therefore, it is crucial for us to maintain adequate water intake. In addition to drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, you can also eat more fruits and vegetables that are rich in water and vitamins to replenish your body's needs. In addition, avoid excessive intake of irritating foods, such as spicy, greasy, barbecue, etc., as these foods can irritate the throat and mouth and aggravate the symptoms of irritation. And there is one vegetable that not only helps alleviate these problems, but also has many other benefits, and that is winter melon.
Winter melon is a very suitable vegetable for consumption in winter, it not only has rich nutrients, but also has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, diuresis and swelling. Winter melon is rich in vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, carotene, calcium, iron, phosphorus and other nutrients, which play a positive role in promoting the health of the body. In particular, the propanolic acid substance in winter melon can help inhibit the process of converting sugars into fat in the body, reduce the accumulation of fat, and help to maintain the figure. In addition, winter melon can also help the body to remove excess water and toxins, reduce the burden on the kidneys, and have a certain preventive effect on some chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and heart disease. It can be said that winter melon is a good ingredient for reducing fat, swelling and beauty, and enhancing immunity.
However, for most people, the regular way of eating winter melon can be tedious. However, have you ever tried drying winter melon into dried winter melon and then using it for stew?I promise, it's a super fragrant way to eat!By drying the winter melon, it can not only prolong the preservation time of the winter melon, but also improve its taste and flavor. Below, I'm going to introduce a way to make dried winter melon and offer two super delicious stews for a great taste in winter.
First of all, the preparations. Choose a fresh large winter melon, wash its skin and remove the pulp and seeds, then cut the winter melon into slices or strips with a thickness of about 1 cm. Next, a salting process is applied. Put the winter melon slices or strips into a basin, add an appropriate amount of salt, stir evenly and let stand for about 3 hours to force out the moisture. Then take out the winter melon slices or strips in the pot, put them in the pot and add an appropriate amount of water, add baking soda after boiling, and continue to cook for about 30 seconds until the winter melon becomes slightly transparent. Finally, place the blanched winter melon slices or strips on a bamboo basket that can leak water, and make sure to leave a gap between each slice for air drying. In sunny weather, it generally takes 3-5 days to dry completely. The dried winter melon is placed in a sealed fresh-keeping bag and can be stored for a while.
Now, let's take a look at how to use these delicious dried winter melons for stewed meat. The first method is stewed pork ribs with dried winter melon. Prepare pork ribs, dried winter melon, green onions, ginger, cooking wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rock sugar, bay leaves, cinnamon and other ingredients. First of all, wash the pork ribs, put them in a pot and add water, skim off the foam after boiling over high heat, add green onions, ginger and cooking wine, turn to low heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Then, soak the dried winter melon in warm water and cut it into small pieces. Pour the stewed pork ribs into a wok, add the soaked dried winter melon, and stir well. Add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rock sugar, bay leaves, cinnamon and other seasonings, stir-fry evenly. Continue to simmer for 10-15 minutes until the dried melon is soft and flavourful. Finally, add an appropriate amount of salt to taste, stir-fry evenly and then remove from the pan.
The second method is stewed chicken with dried winter melon. Prepare ingredients such as chicken, dried winter melon, ginger, green onion, cooking wine, salt, pepper, etc. First, wash the chicken, chop it into cubes, blanch it with boiling water and remove it for later use. Soak the dried winter melon in warm water and cut into small pieces. Add an appropriate amount of oil to the pot, add ginger slices and green onions and stir-fry until fragrant, then add chicken pieces and stir-fry until brown. Add the dried winter melon and stir-fry, add an appropriate amount of cooking wine, and continue to stir-fry. Add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat and simmer for 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Finally, add an appropriate amount of salt and pepper to taste, stir-fry evenly and then remove from the pan.
Winter melon stew is not only delicious, but also nutritious, suitable for winter consumption. During the cooking process, the amount of ingredients and seasonings can be adjusted appropriately according to personal taste. Whether you choose stewed pork ribs with dried winter melon or stewed chicken with dried winter melon, it will add a delicious dish to your winter table.
Finally, I would like to tell you that we will face all kinds of challenges and difficulties in life, but as long as we keep our inner beliefs and dreams, and persevere in our hard work, we will definitely be able to overcome difficulties and achieve our goals. Just like making dried winter melon, there are many steps and waiting for the process, but the end result will be satisfying. Believe in your abilities and face life bravely, and you will surely succeed. Wishing you a warm and wonderful winter!
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