Major Cold (Dahan)
At the end of the year, traditionally eaten foods are warm, moist, and home-style, with meals served hot, soft, and in moderation.
Script
Hello, and welcome to Major Cold, Dahan. In the classic Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie, this term is the midpoint of the twelfth lunar month. It points back to Lesser Cold, with mild cold early in the month and greater cold by mid-month. At this time, seasonal tradition favors warm, moist, home-style food served hot, soft, and in moderation. Common choices include radish, chicken, and garlic shoots. Radish is simmered until mild and juicy. Chicken suits hot dishes for everyday family meals. Garlic shoots are a fresh winter side ingredient. A year-end dish is braised chicken with radish, cooked gently and served warm. Go easy on overly chilled or raw food, and keep holiday snacks in moderation. For more, look to the Major Cold Winter Warming Ingredient Set below.
On the table this season
- Radishcool
A common winter ingredient that becomes mild, juicy, and naturally sweet when simmered.
- Chickenwarm
Suits cold weather in hot dishes and fits the season for everyday family meals.
- Garlic shootswarm
Fresh and gently pungent, making them a timely winter side ingredient.
- Rice cakeswarm
A year-end staple with a soft, chewy texture and a festive feel.
- Mandarinswarm
A seasonal fruit that feels especially refreshing in small amounts after meals.
Cook it
Braised Chicken with Radish
Ingredients: Radish, Chicken, Ginger, Scallion, Cooking oil, Soy sauce, Cooking wine, Salt
- Wash and chop the chicken into pieces. Peel the radish and cut it into chunks. Slice the ginger and cut the scallion into sections.
- Heat a little oil in a pan, add the ginger and chicken, and stir-fry. Add the cooking wine and cook until the surface is lightly golden.
- Add soy sauce and enough water to cover, then add the radish. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer.
- When the chicken and radish are both tender, season with salt, add the scallion, and cook briefly until the sauce slightly reduces.
Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with Garlic Shoots
Ingredients: Garlic shoots, Rice cakes, Cooking oil, Light soy sauce, Salt, Water
- Slice the rice cakes. Wash and cut the garlic shoots into sections, separating the white parts from the green parts.
- Heat oil in a pan, stir-fry the white parts first until fragrant, then add the rice cake slices.
- Add a small splash of water around the edge of the pan, cover, and let the rice cakes soften for a moment.
- Add the green parts, season with light soy sauce and a little salt, then stir quickly and serve.
Go easy on
- Eat less overly chilled or raw food; hot and soft meals fit the season better.
- During holiday gatherings, keep snacks in moderation and avoid too many sweet and salty foods at once.
- If you are having rich meat dishes several meals in a row, balance them with lighter vegetables and fruit.
Classical source
大寒，十二月中。解見前。Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie (Wu Cheng, Yuan dynasty)
Greater Cold is the midpoint term of the twelfth lunar month. The text points back to Lesser Cold: the cold is mild early in the month and great by mid-month.
Original text on Wikisource · Diet text drafted with AI and pending expert review.