Seasonal Nourishment: TCM in October

By Hannah Davis

In San Francisco, tree-lined streets will soon glow in shades of orange, red, and brown, the sun will slip below the horizon earlier each evening, and the summer fog will begin to loosen its grip.

All these external signs tell us that we are passing into the season of Autumn and, if we are mindful, we might notice internal signs of the change as well.

Humans often see themselves as living in and among nature, but decidedly separate from it. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) understands that humans are just as much a part of the natural world as a rushing river, a swaying blade of grass, or a boulder on the rocky coast. 

One powerful way to support ourselves through seasonal transitions is to acknowledge our place in the ecosystem and eat seasonally. TCM recommends warming soups, cooked grains, squash, root vegetables, pears, honey, nuts, seeds, and traditional ingredients like lotus seeds and tremella mushroom (aka snow fungus) during these cooler months.

Below you’ll find a few TCM inspired recipes with these ingredients to support your wellbeing this Fall.

Braised Daikon Radish with Shiitake Mushrooms

Daikon radish is a popular root vegetable in Chinese cuisine, known for its mild flavor and crunchy texture. When braised with umami-rich shiitake mushrooms and other seasonings, it creates a delicious and comforting dish. Here’s a simple recipe for you to try!

Ingredients:

• 1 medium daikon radish, peeled and cut into thick rounds

• 4-6 dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked in hot water until soft, then sliced (reserve the soaking liquid)

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced

• 2 green onions, chopped

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (optional)

• 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• Salt and white pepper to taste

• 2 cups vegetable broth or reserved mushroom soaking liquid

• Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large, deep skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and ginger. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant. 

2. Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms and daikon radish rounds. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the vegetables to slightly brown. 

3. Pour in the soy sauce, oyster sauce (if using), Shaoxing wine, and sugar. Stir well to coat the vegetables evenly. 

4. Add the vegetable broth or reserved mushroom soaking liquid. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for about 30-40 minutes, or until the daikon radish is tender. 

5. Taste the broth and adjust the seasoning with salt and white pepper if needed. 

6. Garnish with chopped green onions and cilantro leaves (if using) before serving.

This dish is typically served with steamed rice. It’s a comforting and flavorful dish that showcases the natural sweetness of the daikon radish combined with the earthy umami of shiitake mushrooms. Enjoy!

Nut and Seed Porridge

A nut and seed porridge made with walnuts, almonds, and flax seeds is a nourishing, comforting breakfast for autumn, when warming foods are favored in TCM. It's rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber, and it also works as a warming afternoon snack. Here's a simple recipe to try:

Ingredients:

• 50g walnuts

• 50g almonds

• 30g flax seeds

• 100g rice (preferably glutinous rice, but regular rice can be used)

• 6 cups water

• Honey to taste

Instructions: 

1. Toast the walnuts and almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until fragrant. Be sure to stir them frequently to prevent burning. Allow them to cool, then roughly chop them. 

2. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. 

3. In a large pot, combine the rice, water, and flax seeds. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer, covered, for about 30-40 minutes, or until the rice is soft and the mixture has thickened. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

4. Add the toasted and chopped walnuts and almonds to the porridge. Stir well to combine.

5. Add honey to taste. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.

6. Ladle the porridge into bowls and serve it warm.

Tremella Snow Fungus Recipe

One of the easiest and most delicious ways to incorporate tremella mushroom into your diet is by making a TCM medicinal dessert soup. This makes a huge pot, so you can keep it in the refrigerator and enjoy it throughout the week as breakfast, snack, or dessert.

This sweet soup is not only delicious but also provides numerous benefits for your health and skin. The tremella mushroom helps to improve skin hydration and plumpness, while the goji and jujube provide a natural source of sweetness without spiking blood sugar levels. In cooler and dryer months, try adding pears or apples to this recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1 whole dried Tremella or Snow Fungus

• Purified Water

• 40g dried Lotus Seeds (green centers removed)

• 3 whole Jujube Red Dates (pitted)

• 15g Goji Berries (or a small handful)

• Honey or a sweetener of choice (optional)

• Asian pear or apple (optional, peeled, cored, and cubed)

Instructions:

1. Soak the dried tremella mushroom in cold water for 60 minutes or overnight until it blooms into a fluffy, jelly cloud with soft texture. Soak the lotus seeds for 60 minutes. The bitter green centers often fall out on their own during the soak, but you can also break the lotus seeds in half to remove them.

2. Rinse the tremella mushroom (if needed) and trim into small pieces. Discard any hard bits, especially the core.

3. In a large pot, add the tremella mushroom, jujubes, and enough water to cover.

4. Bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 1 to 3 hours, or until desired softness. The longer the simmer, the softer, thicker, and more jelly-like the texture becomes. 

5. Add the lotus seeds and cubed pears or apples 30 minutes before you're finished cooking.

6. Add goji berries at the end of cooking while the soup is still hot. 

7. Sweeten to taste if needed. Serve warm or chilled. Enjoy!

Happy Nourishing!

Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a helpful lens for eating with the seasons. By choosing foods that support us we can support our body as it settles into Autumn's slower rhythm. Take what serves you from this guide, enjoy the harvest, and savor the season of reflection.

If you need extra support, acupuncture and specialized body work are excellent additions to caring for your body and mind in the Fall. Feel free to contact us at East-West Integrative Medicine if you have any questions or need some support in your life.

We’d love to see how the recipes turn out!

Tried one of them? Tag us on Instagram @eastwestsf once you've made it and let us know what you thought! We would love to hear which ones become your favorites!