Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe)
Food is best kept fresh, tender, light, and simple, following the upward energy of spring.
Script
Hello, and welcome to Awakening of Insects, Jingzhe. The name marks the opening of the second lunar month. In the ancient almanac Xia Xiaozheng, it says creatures in hibernation begin to stir. In spring, everyday food is best kept fresh, tender, light, and simple. Celery is tender and crisp. Garlic shoots bring a lively savory taste. Eggs are a simple, versatile staple. A seasonal dish to try is Stir-Fried Celery with Eggs. Go easy on overly greasy, heavy, very spicy, and overly warming rich food. Spring vegetables are best fresh, so take extra care with produce stored too long. If you want to cook along, look for the Jingzhe Fresh Vegetable Home Cooking Pack.
On the table this season
- Celerycool
Tender in spring, with a fresh aroma and crisp bite
- Garlic shootswarm
At their seasonal best, with a lively savory flavor that suits the appetite
- Eggsneutral
A versatile everyday ingredient that is easy to cook
- Pearcool
Juicy and refreshing, traditionally eaten in spring
- Soybean sproutscool
Crisp, tender, and refreshing, fitting spring tastes
Cook it
Stir-Fried Celery with Eggs
Ingredients: Celery, Eggs, Cooking oil, Salt
- Wash the celery and cut it into sections; beat the eggs and set aside.
- Heat oil in a pan, then cook the eggs until just set and remove.
- Add a little more oil to the pan and quickly stir-fry the celery.
- Return the eggs to the pan, season with salt, stir well, and serve.
Stir-Fried Garlic Shoots with Soybean Sprouts
Ingredients: Garlic shoots, Soybean sprouts, Cooking oil, Salt
- Wash the garlic shoots and cut them into sections; rinse the soybean sprouts well.
- Heat oil in a pan and first stir-fry the white parts of the garlic shoots until fragrant.
- Add the soybean sprouts and stir-fry over high heat, then add the green parts of the garlic shoots.
- Season with salt and cook until just tender, then serve.
Go easy on
- Eat less overly greasy and heavy food.
- Eat less very spicy and overly warming rich food.
- Spring vegetables are best fresh, so take extra care with produce that has been stored too long.
Classical source
驚蟄，二月節。《夏小正》曰：正月啟蟄，言發蟄也。Yueling Qishier Hou Jijie (Wu Cheng, Yuan dynasty)
Awakening of Insects opens the second lunar month. Quoting the ancient almanac Xia Xiaozheng, it says creatures in hibernation begin to stir.
Original text on Wikisource · Diet text drafted with AI and pending expert review.