The enchanting colors of spring leave us endlessly enamored, and in the blink of an eye, Lixia (立夏) arrives, quietly ushering in summer. Lixia is divided into three phases: the first phase is the chirping of crickets, the second is the emergence of earthworms, and the third is the growth of the king melon. By the time of Lixia, all things enter a vigorous growth period. In ancient times, Lixia was also an important festival, where our ancestors held rituals to pray for favorable weather. To this day, we still retain many customs associated with Lixia, such as eating Lixia eggs, weighing people, tasting the three new foods, and enjoying Lixia rice, all to seek good fortune and blessings, ensuring a summer free from illness and disaster.
This year, Lixia coincides with the last day of the Labor Day holiday. I wonder if everyone has forgotten this solar term amidst the fatigue of travel. However, as summer has just begun, there is still time. I have prepared a bowl of Lixia rice for everyone, let us savor this colorful dish and explore the hidden secrets within.
Lixia
Rice
Lixia rice typically has two preparation methods: one involves mixing red beans, yellow beans, black beans, green beans, and mung beans with white japonica rice to make “five-color rice”; the other uses glutinous rice paired with peas, fava beans, spring bamboo shoots, carrots, and shiitake mushrooms to create “five-color rice.” Although the ingredients differ, both signify a bountiful harvest. Here, I have primarily chosen the second set of ingredients, so let’s take a look at the specific preparation method.
Ingredients:
150g japonica rice, 150g glutinous rice, 100g ham, 100g spring bamboo shoots, 100g peas, 100g fava beans, 3 shiitake mushrooms
Preparation:
1. Soak the glutinous rice for 3 hours in advance; soak the shiitake mushrooms beforehand;
2. Blanch the spring bamboo shoots and peas, then set aside;
3. Dice the spring bamboo shoots, ham, and shiitake mushrooms;
4. Heat some oil in a pan, add the ham, shiitake mushrooms, spring bamboo shoots, peas, and fava beans, and stir-fry until fragrant;
5. Transfer all ingredients to a rice cooker, add an appropriate amount of water, stir well, and select the rice cooking mode;
6. Once the rice is cooked, let it sit for a while, then open the lid and fluff it up.
This bowl of Lixia rice is colorful and visually appealing, with an enticing aroma that whets the appetite. Considering that people usually eat rice with dishes, I did not add much salt to the rice; the ham provides enough saltiness. You can adjust the seasoning according to your preference.
So, why do we say this bowl of Lixia rice hides secrets? Because each ingredient has nourishing properties for the body.
Spring Bamboo Shoots
Spring bamboo shoots grow the fastest in spring, carrying a rising energy. The liver in the human body also thrives on rising energy, so spring bamboo shoots can help us regulate liver qi and relieve liver stagnation.
Peas
Fava Beans
It is often said, “Eating beans in summer is better than eating meat.” Summer beans are tender and nutritious, perfectly supplementing the body’s energy.
Fresh peas, also known as green peas, are sweet and neutral in nature, entering the spleen and stomach meridians. They can tonify qi, promote urination, and are beneficial for digestion. According to the “Sui Xi Ju Dietary Compendium”: “Boiled, they harmonize the stomach, generate fluids, quench thirst, and relieve bloating.”
Fava beans are sweet and neutral, entering the spleen and stomach meridians, and can strengthen the spleen, promote dampness, treat food stagnation, and reduce edema. Wang Ying’s “Food Materia Medica” states: “They stimulate the stomach and harmonize the organs.” The “New Materia Medica” states: “They tonify qi, astringe essence, and strengthen the intestines.”
Both peas and fava beans are sweet and enter the spleen, capable of tonifying spleen qi, strengthening the stomach, and promoting bowel health. They also have diuretic and anti-edema effects, which can alleviate symptoms such as urinary difficulties and edema, making them suitable for helping us expel dampness in summer.
Japonica Rice
Glutinous Rice
Japonica rice, also known as Northeast rice, is sweet and neutral, capable of tonifying qi, strengthening the spleen and stomach, enhancing energy, and building muscle.
Glutinous rice is sweet and warm, able to warm and tonify the spleen and stomach, tonify qi, and stop diarrhea.
Both japonica rice and glutinous rice are relatively mild tonics, primarily nourishing the spleen and stomach to achieve the effects of tonifying deficiency and enhancing energy.
From this analysis, you can see that this bowl of Lixia rice is not only visually appealing but also nutritionally rich. No wonder the tradition of eating Lixia rice has continued; it prepares the body for energy reserves to face the upcoming hot summer.
Here, I would like to remind everyone that children with fava bean disease can omit the fava beans; this is merely a dietary suggestion, and the ingredients can be adjusted according to the child’s condition.
In early summer, still carrying the freshness of spring and not yet as fervent as midsummer, this period is an excellent time for us to adjust our bodies. I hope this bowl of Lixia rice satisfies your taste buds and brings you health and good fortune.
Text, Editing, Animation | Qianmeng
Image Material | Baotu Network, authorized
