Summer Recipes
The early part of summer, in the Chinese scheme of things, is the most energetic period of the year. It is represented by fire in the Taoist Five Element theory. The weather is hot (in China at least!), the garden is in bloom, and fruits are ripe. The summer is the time when we have the energy to make things happen, to complete projects, and finally to implement change. But fire needs to be kept under control or it can run wild and cause damage.
In the West, summer is the time for cold drinks and raw food. Chinese dietary therapy considers these to be damaging to the body as they make it create even more fire to digest them and can put it right out of kilter. Spicy foods on the other hand keep the body in tune with the season. In the stifling west of China (Sichuan province) the diet is based on spicy food to keep the body in tune with the climate.
A diet for summer should also include some bitter flavours as these nourish and tone the heart, which is the organ associated with fire, and stop it from getting out of control.
Spicy. Fire foods for summer include:
- Red and green chillies, fresh or dried.
- Fresh ginger, garlic, onions and spring onions
- Spices such as cinnamon, dried ginger, cumin and dried coriander and curry powders
- Red peppers
If you do choose salads for summer eating then be sure to dress them with a spicy dressing to help create the fire needed to digest them.
Bitter foods are difficult to include in the diet (which is why most medicines are bitter) but some of the more easily available are:
- Chicory, kohlrabi, asparagus (slightly), celery (slightly), lettuce (slightly)
- Many leafy greens
- Orange peel (dried can be added to stews and soups – fresh can be used in baking)
- Dark chocolate (in moderation!)
And drink plenty of tea between meals; Chinese Green is best but black is bitter too.
If you have too much fire in your system you may suffer from rashes and skin problems. Fire moves outwards and upwards so can also cause headaches, toothache, ulcers and abscesses. Bitter foods should help alleviate these symptoms and some lighter neutral or naturally cooling foods may be necessary to provide a balance. Try mung beans or beansprouts (cooked not raw), shitake mushrooms, pumpkin or sweet potato, rice and rice noodles.
Teenagers are in the fire stage of life, ruled by the heart, and are particularly susceptible to fire related symptoms, behavioral as well as physical. While they can be incredibly energetic and creative they can also be volatile and disruptive. A good diet at this stage can make a big difference. Because the bitter taste, which is so necessary during the fire period, is not always very palatable, Chinese recipes combine them with a range of flavours to make dishes that are appetizing as well as nourishing. My summer recipes include a range of flavours with bitter touches, plenty of spice but some lighter dishes too.