Home Food & Receipts The Ultimate Egg-cellent Leaf: A Japanese Secret to a Tastier Breakfast

Food & Receipts

The Ultimate Egg-cellent Leaf: A Japanese Secret to a Tastier Breakfast

22 January, 2025

The Japanese Often Fry Eggs With This Vegetable for a Healthier Dish

Instead of using scallions, the Japanese typically add an abundance of chives to their fried eggs, making the dish more appealing and nutritious.

For a Healthier Dish, Fry Eggs With Chives Instead of Scallions: A Delicious and Nutritious Combination

In addition to eggs, many Japanese families also stir-fry chives with meat or sprinkle them over tofu. They enjoy this dish all year round, especially during the summer months.

While chives are commonly found in Vietnam, not everyone is aware of their full potential. In traditional Chinese medicine, chives have a pungent taste, a slightly acidic flavor, and a warming property. They are known as the ‘kidney vegetable’ and are believed to be beneficial for men’s sexual health.

Chives are also rich in vitamins and crude fiber, aiding in improving digestive motility, treating constipation, and preventing colorectal cancer.

Additionally, chives help dissolve blood stasis, promote blood circulation, and detoxify the body.

Chives are an excellent source of vitamin A, which has beautifying effects on the skin and eyes. Regular consumption of chives can improve vision, moisturize the lungs, and reduce the risk of colds, flu, and asthma.

During winter, the Japanese and Chinese especially favor chives as they warm the body, ward off colds, boost physical strength, enhance blood circulation, and prevent a deficiency of yang energy.

Chives are also beneficial for the liver due to the presence of sulfides and their distinctive aroma, which helps open the liver’s qi.

Notably, chives contain alliums, which have been found to prevent and support the treatment of certain types of cancer. In a study of 285 women, researchers concluded that consuming alliaceous vegetables, such as chives, reduced the risk of developing breast cancer.

Regularly including chives in your diet can provide a good source of vitamin K, which is effective in preventing and treating osteoporosis.

The Benefits of Chives and Some Precautions to Keep in Mind

1. It is advisable not to overeat chives as it may cause abdominal distension, indigestion, or diarrhea. A controlled intake of 100-200g per meal is recommended.

– Individuals with yin deficiency and excess fire (symptoms: irritability, flushed cheeks, dry mouth with no desire to drink, red tongue, night sweats, etc.), those with ulcers and eye diseases, and those prone to allergies should refrain from consuming chives.

– Leftover chive dishes should not be consumed the next day.

– When preparing chives, it is important to cut them into small pieces and stir-fry them over high heat, working quickly. Prolonged cooking can cause the chives to disintegrate, affecting the taste and causing the sulfides in the chives to deteriorate.

Soft and Sweet Fried Eggs with Chives: A Delicious and Nutritious Dish

Here’s how to prepare fried eggs with chives:

– Crack 4 eggs into a bowl. Peel and slice the shallot.

– Pick the yellow and wilted leaves from the chives, then wash and cut them into sections about two finger joints long.

– Use chopsticks to beat the eggs until well mixed. Add half a tablespoon of fish sauce and one chopped chili pepper, stirring to combine. Then, add the chopped chives and mix well.

– Heat a tablespoon of cooking oil in a pan. When the oil is hot, add the sliced shallot and fry until fragrant. When the shallot turns slightly golden, pour in the egg and chive mixture.

– Use chopsticks and a spoon to spread the chives evenly across the surface of the egg and fry on low heat for 3-5 minutes until the egg sets. Then, flip the egg over and fry for another 2-3 minutes.