In traditional Chinese medicine, gastric qi refers to the overall function of the spleen and stomach. As the most important organs in the human body, the spleen and stomach are responsible for the production of qi and blood. The growth and development of the body, as well as the supply of all nutrients necessary for maintaining life, rely on the spleen and stomach. If the function of the spleen and stomach weakens, the growth and development of the body, as well as metabolism, can be severely affected. Therefore, in order to maintain health and longevity, the first thing to do is to nourish the gastric qi. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that using food therapy to nourish the gastric qi is the best approach.
Medicated Recipe 1: Longevity Maranta
Ingredients: 250g fresh maranta, 5 pieces of spiced tofu, 50g fried peanuts, soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, sugar, and MSG to taste.
Preparation: Peel the fried peanuts and chop them finely. Blanch the spiced tofu in boiling water and cut it into small pieces. Squeeze out the excess water from the maranta after blanching and chop it finely. Mix all the ingredients together and add the seasonings. Mix well and serve.
Benefits: This dish is cooling, detoxifying, nourishing for the spleen and stomach, and moistening for the lungs. Adding vinegar to the dish can also help prevent and treat high blood pressure.
Medicated Recipe 2: Stir-fried Chinese Chives with Tofu Skin
Ingredients: 100g tofu skin, 250g Chinese chives, 75ml vegetable oil, starch, MSG, rapeseed oil, and yellow wine to taste.
Preparation: Moisten the tofu skin with yellow wine, then cut it into thin strips. Wash and cut the Chinese chives into 1-2 inch pieces. Heat the oil in a wok until it reaches 70% heat, then add salt and stir-fry the Chinese chives until cooked. Add some cooked oil to the wok, then add yellow wine, soy sauce, starch, MSG, and tofu skin. Stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the Chinese chives and mix well.
Benefits: Tofu skin nourishes the stomach and eliminates phlegm, while Chinese chives warm the middle and promote digestion, detoxification, and blood circulation. This dish is suitable for those with weak digestion, cough with phlegm, and bruises.
Medicated Recipe 3: Braised Pig Stomach
Ingredients: 1 pig stomach, 50g fennel, ginger, salt, and MSG to taste.
Preparation: Wash the pig stomach inside and outside, then cut it into pieces. Wrap the fennel and ginger in a piece of gauze. Add water to a pot, then add the pig stomach and the wrapped fennel and ginger. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer until the pig stomach is tender. Add salt and MSG to taste.
Benefits: This dish strengthens the spleen and stomach, replenishes deficiencies, and stops diarrhea. It is also an ideal meal for people with diabetes.
Medicated Recipe 4: Small Yellow Croaker Soup
Ingredients: 250g small yellow croaker, 100g vegetable oil, 25g pickled mustard greens, 250ml meat broth, yellow wine, salt, sugar, starch, MSG, chopped green onion, ginger, and sesame oil to taste.
Preparation: Clean the small yellow croaker and remove the head and internal organs. Marinate with salt, yellow wine, and starch for a while. Heat the oil in a pan until it reaches 70% heat, then fry the small yellow croaker on both sides until golden brown. Leave some oil in the pan, then add ginger, green onion, pickled mustard greens, and stir-fry. Add the meat broth and bring to a boil. Add the small yellow croaker, sesame oil, and MSG. Simmer until cooked.
Benefits: This soup nourishes the body, improves appetite, promotes digestion, and has tender and nutritious meat. It is an ideal nutritious dish.
Medicated Recipe 5: Pumpkin and Taro Dumplings
Ingredients: 250g pumpkin, 300g taro, 500g glutinous rice flour, 100g lean pork, 50g dried shiitake mushrooms, sesame oil, salt, and MSG to taste.
Preparation: Steam the pumpkin until soft, remove the skin, and mash it. Mix it with glutinous rice flour to make a dough. Steam the taro until soft, remove the skin, and mash it. Stir-fry the diced lean pork and dried shiitake mushrooms with oil until cooked, then season with salt and MSG. Divide the dough into small portions and wrap each portion with the filling to make dumplings. Steam until cooked.
Benefits: These dumplings nourish yin, invigorate the stomach, promote diuresis, and reduce swelling. They are also ideal for people with diabetes.
Medicated Recipe 6: Sesame Honey Cake
Ingredients: 100g black sesame seeds, 150ml honey, 200g corn flour, 500g all-purpose flour, 2 eggs, and baking powder to taste.
Preparation: Grind the black sesame seeds into powder. Mix it with corn flour, all-purpose flour, beaten eggs, baking powder, and honey. Add water to make a dough. Keep the dough at a temperature of 35°C for 1.5-2 hours for fermentation. Steam for 20 minutes.
Benefits: This cake is good for the liver, strengthens the stomach, and promotes the growth of red blood cells.
