Shuò zhuó belongs to the honeysuckle family and is a plant in the genus Sambucus. It can be eaten as a food and used as a medicine. The medicinal parts are the whole plant or the root of the shuò zhuó, and the edible part is the tender leaves of the shuò zhuó plant. The tender leaves can be blanched with boiling water, soaked and cleaned, stir-fried or mixed for consumption, creating a unique flavor. Common dishes made from shuò zhuó and their therapeutic effects are as follows.
Medicated Diet 1: Cold Shuò Zhuó Salad
Ingredients: 300g of fresh tender shuò zhuó leaves, roasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, minced garlic, salt, monosodium glutamate (MSG) as needed.
Method: Wash the shuò zhuó leaves thoroughly, blanch them in boiling water with salt. Then soak them in cold water for a while, remove and gently squeeze out the water, cut into sections, and place them in a clean bowl. Add roasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, minced garlic, salt, and MSG, mix well, and serve.
Characteristics: Fragrant, tender, and refreshing.
Effects: Clears heat and stimulates appetite.
Medicated Diet 2: Stir-fried Shuò Zhuó with Pork Slices
Ingredients: 200g of fresh tender shuò zhuó leaves, 150g of fatty pork slices, salad oil, soy sauce, salt, sugar, MSG, shredded scallions, and minced ginger as needed.
Method: Wash the shuò zhuó leaves thoroughly, blanch them in boiling water, and then soak them in cold water. Drain the water. Wash the pork slices and cut them into thin pieces. Heat the wok over high heat, add salad oil, and stir-fry the pork slices until oil is released. Add minced ginger, shredded scallions, soy sauce, salt, and sugar. Stir-fry evenly. Add the shuò zhuó leaves. Stir-fry briefly over high heat. Sprinkle with MSG. Stir-fry a few more times. Remove from heat and serve.
Characteristics: Tender, smooth, and sweet flavor.
Effects: Nourishes the skin, strengthens the body, and promotes bone healing and pain relief.
Medicated Diet 3: Shuò Zhuó and Ham Soup
Ingredients: 200g of fresh tender shuò zhuó leaves, 50g of cooked ham, 15g of dried shrimp, 4 dried shiitake mushrooms soaked in water, 1000mL of clear soup, salt, MSG, and sesame oil as needed.
Method: Wash the shuò zhuó leaves thoroughly, blanch them in boiling water, and then soak them in cold water. Squeeze out the water and cut into sections. Soak the dried shrimp in boiling water until soft. Rinse and clean them. Cut the ham into thin slices about 2cm long and 1.5cm wide. Clean the shiitake mushrooms and remove the stems. Cut each mushroom into 4 pieces. Place the soup, ham, dried shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, salt in a pot. Skim off the foam when the soup boils. Add the shuò zhuó leaves and cook for 3 minutes. Sprinkle with MSG and drizzle with sesame oil. Serve in a soup bowl.
Characteristics: Fragrant and delicious.
Effects: Aids digestion and stimulates appetite.
