Archive for May, 2008

Borscht

This is a modified, sort of Asian-ish version of Borscht, which I created for a dietetics class. The purpose of this soup is to help remove liver qi stagnation.

  • 5-6 medium/large beets
  • 8 cups vegetable (or mushroom) stock
  • 1.5 in. piece of ginger, chopped
  • 1 tbsp dry dill
  • 2 medium cloves garlic
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/2 head cabbage, chopped
  • 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 cup coconut milk

Cook beets, stock, ginger, dill, garlic, pepper and cabbage until boiling. Turn heat down and cook on medium for 1 – 2 hours. Use a hand blender or food processor to puree the soup. Add vinegar and coconut milk. Add salt to taste.

Cucumber Namasu

This is a great summer recipe:

  • 2 cucumbers, slightly peeled, sliced in half with seeds scooped out, then cut into U shapes about 1/4 in. thick
  • 1.5 TBSP fresh chopped ginger
  • 1/4 c. brown rice vinegar (or rice wine vinegar)
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp. fish sauce
  • 1 tsp flax or sesame seed
  • top with sliced nori

Mix cucumbers with vinegar, ginger, sea salt, fish sauce and flax seeds. Let sit for at least 1/2 hour. Top with sliced nori and enjoy!