Dog days, the hottest and wettest season of the year, usually lasts around 40 days. During this period, the human body is prone to fatigue and collapse, and needs to replenish qi and blood through diet to maintain vitality. In order to cope with the scorching heat, we can always keep several nutritious snacks at home and eat them in moderation every day, which can not only replenish qi and blood, but also satisfy the appetite. Here are four recommended dog day snacks and how to make them.
1. Beef jerky
Beef jerky is a high-protein, low-fat snack that is not only delicious, but also provides a wealth of nutrients that help replenish energy. Homemade beef jerky is not only hygienic, but it also allows the seasoning to be adjusted to individual tastes, ensuring flavor and nutrition.
Recommended recipe: Homemade beef jerky
Ingredients: 500g beef (lean meat), 2 tablespoons light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon cooking wine, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional), 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon minced ginger,
Here's how:
1. Wash the beef and cut it into strips, trying to cut it evenly to a thickness of about 1 cm.
2. Put the beef strips in a large bowl, add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, cooking wine, black pepper, chili powder, cumin powder, minced garlic and minced ginger, stir well to evenly coat the beef strips with seasoning. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight, so that the beef is more flavorful.
3. Place the marinated beef strips on the grill and bake them in an oven preheated to 140°C. Roast for about 1 hour, during which the dough is turned every 20 minutes to heat the beef jerky evenly, take it out after roasting, and let it cool before eating.
2. Red dates
Jujube is a traditional blood tonic that is rich in vitamins and minerals, which can enhance physical strength and improve immunity. The three-steamed and three-dried black dates not only retain the nutrition of the red dates, but also increase the sweet taste, which is very suitable as a snack for replenishing qi and blood on dog days.
Recommended recipe: three steamed and three tanned dates
Ingredients: 500 grams of fresh red dates, appropriate amount of water
Here's how:
1. Wash the jujubes, put them in a steamer and steam them for 30 minutes, take out the jujubes after steaming, and dry them in the sun.
2. Repeat the above steps three times to make the jujube fully absorb the sunlight and steam and turn it into black jujube, and after drying it for the last time, put it in a sealed jar for preservation.
3. Dried longan
Dried longan has the effect of nourishing blood and soothing the nerves, rich in vitamins and minerals, and is a rare health product in summer. In addition to eating directly and soaking in water, dried longan can also be made into yam lily longan and red date soup, this soup combines a variety of nourishing ingredients, rich in taste, can not only supplement nutrition, but also clear heat and relieve heat, very suitable for dog days to eat.
Recommended recipe: yam lily longan and red date soup
Ingredients: 20 grams of dried longan, 10 red dates, 100 grams of yam, 30 grams of lily, 10 grams of wolfberry, 20 grams of seeds, appropriate amount of osmanthus.
Directions:
1. Peel and cut the yam into pieces, wash the lily and set aside.
2. Add an appropriate amount of water to the pot, add dried longan, red dates, yams, lilies, and seeds, bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat and cook for 30 minutes. Add the goji berries, cook for another 10 minutes, and finally sprinkle with osmanthus and serve.
4. Candied ginger slices
Ginger has the effect of dissipating cold in temperature and helping digestion, and candied ginger slices are sweet and spicy, appetizing and satisfying, which can not only warm the spleen and stomach, but also help to improve appetite, and is an indispensable snack on dog days.
Recommended recipe: Candied ginger slices
Ingredients: 200 grams of ginger, 100 grams of sugar, appropriate amount of water
Detailed instructions:
1. Wash the ginger, peel and cut into thin slices, add water to a boil, blanch the ginger slices for 2 minutes, remove and drain.
2. Add an appropriate amount of water and sugar to the pot, cook over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, add the blanched ginger slices, continue to cook over low heat until the ginger slices are transparent and the syrup is thick, then turn off the heat, remove the ginger slices, spread them out to dry, and put them in a sealed jar for preservation.
The high temperature and humidity of dog days make the human body feel tired and weak easily, so it is very necessary to choose some snacks that can replenish qi and blood and enhance physical strength. Beef jerky, black dates, dried longan, and candied ginger slices are not only nutritious, but also easy to make, making them suitable as a healthy daily snack. Eating a little of these snacks every day during this hot season will not only satisfy your cravings, but also keep you energized for the challenges of each day.