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Spring · from 5 Apr

Clear and Bright

清明

Clear heat, nourish Liver and Kidney.

Next: Grain Rain on 20 Apr — 15 days

Tailor to a constitution

Ginger and spring onion chicken noodles with choy sum
Clear and Bright · Breakfast · Yang Deficiency

Ginger and spring onion chicken noodles with choy sum

Gently poached chicken, torn into shreds, on noodles tossed in sizzling ginger and spring onion oil, with blanched choy sum.

  • 25 min
  • Serves 2
  • Boil
  • Easy
WarmingWarms and disperses coldSupports qi

Why it suits you: Yang-deficient types feel cold in the damp, chilly Clear and Bright weather, with cold hands and a poor appetite. Pungent, warm ginger and spring onion free up yang and disperse cold, chicken warms the middle, and plain choy sum keeps it light.

Method

Prep 10 min · Cook 15 min
  1. 1Lower the chicken into boiling water, boil for 1 minute, then turn off the heat, cover and leave for 10 minutes until cooked through. Lift out and shred.
  2. 2Put the ginger, spring onion and salt in a bowl. Heat the oil until smoking and pour it over, then stir.
  3. 3Bring the water back to the boil and blanch the choy sum for 1 minute; lift out, then cook the noodles for 1–2 minutes and drain.
  4. 4Toss the noodles with the ginger oil and soy sauce, top with the chicken and serve with the choy sum.

Chef's tips

  • Make extra ginger and spring onion oil; it keeps for three days in the fridge and is good on rice too.

The TCM view

Ginger and spring onion are pungent and warm, warming the middle and freeing yang. Chicken is sweet and warm and warms and supports qi; choy sum is sweet and neutral and settles the stomach. Together they warm the middle, disperse cold and build qi.

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Seasonal principle

A time for reflection and clearing internal heat. Focus on foods that support the Liver and Kidneys while keeping the body light. Spend time outdoors to absorb the fresh spring air, but protect yourself from sudden temperature drops. Incorporate gentle stretching to release physical and emotional tension.

In season now

In season around Clear and Bright: Mugwort, Mulberry, Black Sesame, Walnuts, Seaweed

Tap an ingredient for its nature, uses and nutrition.

Yang Deficiency

Feels the cold, with cold hands and feet

Enjoy: Fresh ginger · Lamb · Chinese chives · Walnuts and chestnuts · Longan

Go easy: Iced drinks · Cooling foods like watermelon and bitter melon · Too much green tea or herbal "cooling" tea

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Based on traditional Chinese medicine for general wellness education — not a medical diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, are severe or unusual, please see a doctor or registered Chinese medicine practitioner.