Beat the July heat with these three delicious and cooling recipes featuring water celery, cucumber, and wax gourd. These dishes are easy to prepare and will help you stay refreshed during the hot summer months.
1. Stir-fried Water Celery Flowers with Clams – A Refreshing Dish for a Hot Day
Ingredients: Fresh water celery flowers, clams, ginger, garlic, cooking wine, and basic seasonings.
Instructions:
- Clean the clams and boil them to extract the meat. The clam broth can be used to make a soup.
- Sauté garlic and ginger, then add the clams and stir-fry until slightly browned.
- Toss in the water celery flowers and give it a quick stir on high heat. Season to taste and turn off the heat.
This dish is perfect for cooling off in July. Water celery has a natural sweetness and a cooling property, and it’s excellent for boosting your immune system.

Stir-fried water celery flowers with clams is one of the best cooling dishes for July, and it boosts your immune system.
2. Steamed Cucumber with Shrimp – Sweet and Refreshing
Ingredients: Cucumber, fresh shrimp, soy sauce, scallions, garlic, chili, and sesame oil.
Instructions:
- Cut the cucumber into thick slices and hollow them out to stuff with the prepared shrimp.
- Drizzle a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, scallions, and wine over the cucumber.
- Steam for about 10 minutes and drizzle with sesame oil before serving.
This dish is an excellent way to stay hydrated and avoid greasy foods. It’s a perfect addition to your July cooling menu if you have a poor appetite during the hot weather.
3. Duck Soup with Wax Gourd and Goji Berries – A Nutritious and Cooling Treat
Ingredients: Duck meat, wax gourd, goji berries, ginger, scallions, salt, and basic seasonings.
Instructions:
- Blanch the duck with wine and ginger, then rinse.
- Simmer the duck with ginger for about 30 minutes, then add the wax gourd and cook for another 15 minutes.
- Finally, add the goji berries and scallions.
This nutritious dish supports circulation and prevents dehydration during the summer.
4. Why Choose Cooling Dishes for July?
- Health Benefits: Ingredients like wax gourd, cucumber, and water celery help cool the body and detoxify the liver.
- Easy to Prepare: These dishes can be made in under 30 minutes without any fancy equipment.
- Cost-Effective: The ingredients are inexpensive and readily available in any market during this season.
- Choose fresh, undamaged ingredients.
- For steamed and boiled dishes, go easy on the seasonings to maintain the refreshing taste.
- Avoid over-stirring to prevent losing moisture and nutrients from the vegetables.
These July cooling recipes are not only simple and affordable but also highly effective in keeping your body refreshed and detoxified during the intense summer heat. Try these three recipes to make your family meals more enticing and healthier every day.