1. Bracken Fern Not only is it tender and smooth to eat, but it also boasts high nutritional value. Rich in various vitamins and minerals, it is hailed as the king of wild mountain vegetables. Pharmacological studies indicate that bracken fern has a sweet taste and cold nature. When used medicinally, it can detoxify, clear heat, moisten the intestines, regulate qi, and resolve phlegm.Regular consumption can help treat hypertension, dizziness, insomnia, uterine bleeding, chronic arthritis, and even prevent influenza. Bracken can be prepared in numerous ways—braised, stir-fried, stewed, simmered, or steamed (preferably blanched in hot water first). Its vibrant green color, tender texture, and rich, fresh aroma make it a favorite among diners worldwide.
2. Chinese Toon Tree (Toona sinensis)
Also known as red toon or spring buds, Chinese toon shoots offer diverse culinary applications. Dishes like stir-fried toon shoots with pork, scrambled eggs with toon shoots, cold-tossed toon shoots, deep-fried toon shoots, and toon shoot-topped noodles each boast unique flavors. The toon tree holds significant medicinal value.The Tang Materia Medica states that toon tree is primarily used to wash scabies and hives, with the decocted leaf juice applied topically.
Tung Tree Shoot Recipe: Tung Tree Shoots with Tofu
Method: Cut tofu into cubes and boil in a pot of water. Drain, dice finely, and plate. Wash tung tree shoots, blanch briefly, chop finely, and place in a bowl. Add salt, MSG, and sesame oil. Mix well and pour over tofu. Toss thoroughly with chopsticks before serving.
3. Shepherd's Purse
Also known as water chickweed, field chickweed, pillow grass, or life-protecting grass. Shepherd's Purse features tender leaves and plump roots with an enticing fragrance and delicious flavor. It is rich in protein, carbohydrates, carotene, vitamin C, and various essential amino acids and minerals.
Shepherd's Purse can be prepared in numerous ways, suitable for stir-frying or soups.People also commonly use shepherd's purse as filling for buns, spring rolls, dumplings, and glutinous rice balls. Shepherd's purse is also a genuine medicinal herb. Traditional Chinese medicine considers it pungent and sweet in taste, cool and neutral in nature, with effects of harmonizing the spleen, promoting diuresis, stopping bleeding, and improving vision. It can treat hypertension, coronary heart disease, dysentery, nephritis, and other conditions.
4. Field Pimpernel (Lobelia chinensis)
Also known as field lobelia, roadside chrysanthemum, red-stemmed herb, or chicken-head herb, this perennial herbaceous plant belongs to the Asteraceae family. Its name originates from the practice of harvesting its tender stems and leaves as a vegetable. It contains abundant vitamins and minerals, surpassing even nutrient-rich spinach. Field pimpernel boasts higher vitamin A content than tomatoes and exceeds citrus fruits in vitamin C.Traditional Chinese medicine classifies mugwort as cool in nature with a pungent taste and non-toxic properties. It is valued for clearing heat, detoxifying, cooling the blood to stop bleeding, promoting urination, and reducing swelling. Regular consumption benefits conditions like hypertension, pharyngitis, acute hepatitis, and tonsillitis. It can be stir-fried, served cold in salads, or sun-dried for later use.Stir-fry tender wild chrysanthemum leaves with young bamboo shoot slices for a fragrant dish. Blanch the leaves, chop finely, and mix with cooked minced chicken, cooked ham bits, salt, sugar, and sesame oil for an even more delicious flavor. Place cooked wild chrysanthemum leaves as a base under braised pork or meatballs for a balanced meat-and-vegetable dish that excels in color, aroma, and taste.After washing, squeeze dry and mince chickweed. Mix into meat filling for egg rolls, wontons, or dumplings—deliciously refreshing with an enticing fragrance.
5. Purslane
Also known as longevity vegetable, melon seed vegetable, horse snake seed vegetable, or five-element herb.Rich in vitamins A, B, C, carotene, protein, crude fiber, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies purslane as cold in nature, with properties to clear heat, detoxify, reduce swelling, drain dampness, cool blood, lower blood pressure, and promote urination. It treats urethritis, hematuria, dysentery, jaundice-type hepatitis, and gynecological disorders. Commonly used in soups, congee, or cold salads.Purslane has a pronounced stimulating effect on the uterus, so pregnant women should avoid it. Those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold should also consume it sparingly. 6. Bitter Greens Also known as bitter lettuce, it contains protein and various vitamins. Its tender shoots are edible. Raw, it has a slight bitterness, but blanching in boiling water removes the bitterness.Bitter greens can be stir-fried with meat or eggs, used in soups, or blended with soybean flour into small tofu-like cakes. They can also be blanched and dipped in bean paste. Considered bitter and cold in nature, traditional Chinese medicine attributes them with clearing heat, detoxifying, and cooling the blood. They are used to treat mastitis, upper respiratory infections, acute pharyngitis, and cellulitis. Those with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold should consume sparingly.
7. Ground Wood Ear
Also known as ground lichen, its gelatinous substance absorbs residual dust and impurities in the digestive tract, cleansing the stomach and intestines. Traditional Chinese medicine considers ground wood ear mild in nature with tonifying and qi-nourishing effects. Often used in soups, it offers a fresh, savory flavor.Wild vegetables are pollution-free green foods. Not only are they rich in nutrients and delicious, but they also possess high medicinal value. Here are several common wild vegetables that excel both as food and medicine.
8. Houttuynia cordata (Fish腥草) Also known as fish腥草, it has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting urination, and reducing swelling. It is also effective in treating stomach cancer, has tonifying and strengthening properties, promotes hair growth, and can turn gray hair black.
The above introduces some wild greens found in the spring month of March. Friends who haven't tried these wild greens can look for them at the market—you might just find some!