Houttuynia Grassland name Houttuynia, Zheergen. It is named for its strong fishy smell in its fresh leaves. If it is freshly used in soup, this special fishy smell is unacceptable, but after drying in the shade, the fishy smell disappears and has a slight fragrance. , When adding water to make soup, it can also emit a cinnamon-like aroma. The color and taste of the soup are like light black tea juice, fragrant and slightly astringent.
Houttuynia cordata is mainly produced in Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Hubei. Its stem is flat cylindrical or quasi-cylindrical, twisted and slender, about 10-30 cm long and 2-4 mm thick. The surface is light reddish brown to yellowish brown, with longitudinal wrinkles or fine grooves, the nodes are clearly visible, and there are traces of fibrous roots on the nodes near the lower part.
Houttuynia cordata can clear away heat and detoxify, diuretic and reduce swelling. It has a certain effect on dysentery, eczema, lung abscess, edema, and carbuncle. It is also an important medicine for treating lung carbuncle in traditional Chinese medicine.
Fresh Houttuynia cordata is mostly seen in general meat and vegetable markets, and it is better to have large leaves and strong fishy smell. Most Chinese medicine stores sell shade-dried Houttuynia cordata, which is light reddish brown, with intact stems and leaves, and no impurities such as soil.
1. Mung bean kelp and houttuynia soup
Ingredients: 50 grams of mung beans, 25 grams of kelp, 50 grams of fresh Houttuynia cordata (25 grams for dry products), and an appropriate amount of brown sugar.
Method: Wash everything separately. Soak mung beans, Houttuynia cordata, and kelp, put them into a clay pot together, add 1250ml of water (about 5 bowls), bring to a boil after a strong fire, then change to a simmer to about 500ml (about 2 bowls), and add brown sugar. Drink for 2 people or 1 person in 2 servings a day.
2. Hedyotis cat's claw grass Houttuynia stew lean pork
Ingredients: 50 grams each of fresh hedyotis, cat's claw, and houttuynia, 4-5 red dates, 400 grams of lean pork, and 4 slices of ginger.
Method: Wash everything separately. Pitted red dates. Put it in a clay pot together, add 2500 ml of water (about 10 bowls), bring to a boil after a strong fire, and then change to a simmer for about 2 hours, then add salt. For 3-4 people.
3. Lettuce mixed with Houttuynia cordata
Ingredients: Take 50 grams of Houttuynia cordata, 250 grams of lettuce, 10 grams each of garlic and green onion, appropriate amount of ginger, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, monosodium glutamate, and sesame oil.
Method: Remove impurities and old roots of Houttuynia cordata, wash and cut into sections, blanch in boiling water, remove, stir with salt, and marinate. Peel the lettuce, remove the leaves, rinse, cut into 1-inch thick shreds, pickle with salt, and drain. Chop green onion, ginger and garlic and set aside. Put shredded lettuce and Houttuynia cordata in a plate, add soy sauce, monosodium glutamate, vinegar, green onion, ginger, garlic, stir evenly, drizzle with sesame oil and serve.
Efficacy: clearing heat and detoxifying, eliminating phlegm and promoting dampness.