Special Recipes: 坐月子 Confinement Period Week 1

Road to Zuo Yuezi: Chinese practice of the Confinement Period

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 安胎, the confinement period is a 30 day practice dating hundreds of years and refers to the stage where mothers seek to stabilize their body postpartum. These ancient practices 䟙胎 focuses on proper care and allow your body to recover its Qi and blood to be replenished to regain vitality for your health while supporting your baby’s steady growth through a well-balanced diet that aids nutrient absorption. By replenishing your Qi, you give your body the chance to recover fully, replenish its blood, and renew the vitality that supports both your well-being and your journey into motherhood.

Week 1 of Zuo Yuezi: Recipes

During week 1 of confinement, your meals are focused on aiding in uterus healing and promote lactation.

Breakfast: Confinement Porridge 月子粥

This porridge combines ingredients traditionally used in TCM to support postpartum recovery and overall health. Together, these ingredients are thought to restore energy, nourish blood, and support postpartum recovery.

• Millet: Nourishes the spleen, kidney, and stomach.

• Black rice: Strengthens kidneys and liver, improves blood circulation, and helps treat anemia.

• Pink skin-on peanuts: Nourish the blood and may support lactation.

• Adzuki red beans: Strengthen spleen and kidneys, reduce fluid retention, support digestion, and may stimulate milk production.

• Chinese red dates (jujubes): Replenish qi and blood, reduce fatigue, and support digestion and sleep.

• Longan fruit: Tonifies blood, soothes nerves, and benefits the heart and spleen (optional due to possible constipation).

• Ginger: Adds warmth to rebalance the body after childbirth.

• Goji berries: Protect the liver, reduce fatigue, and boost immunity.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup millet (小米)

• 1/4 cup black rice or black glutinous rice (黑米/黑糯米)

• 1/4 cup raw skin-on peanuts (红衣花生)

• 1/4 cup red (adzuki) beans (红豆)

• 6–8 cups water

• 12 Chinese red dates (红枣), pitted

• 8 dried longan fruits (optional)

• 2 slices ginger

• 2 tablespoons dried goji berries (枸杞)

Instructions:

1. Rinse millet, black rice, peanuts, and red beans. Soak all grains and nuts in 6–8 cups water for 1–2 hours or overnight.

2. Cut red dates open to remove pits. Add dates, longan (if using), and ginger to the pot.

3. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 1 hour. Avoid stirring too much to prevent sticking.

4. Turn off heat and let the porridge sit for another hour on the stove.

5. Stir in goji berries and brown sugar, then simmer 10–15 minutes until porridge reaches your desired thickness.

Lunch: Ginger & Wine Chicken Soup 薑雞酒湯

In our family, this nourishing recipe isn’t just about food but it’s using food to support wound healing, replenish Qi and blood, reduce swelling, prevent constipation, and aid lactation, it helps new mothers regain strength and balance after childbirth. Every step, from the ginger sautéed with skin to the careful addition of wine, has been passed down through generations, bringing warmth, flavor, and a sense of home with every bite

Ingredients:

• ½ chicken

• Large ginger

• 6 cups of water

• 600ml Chinese wine

• 3 tablespoons sesame oil

Instructions:

1. Heat a clay pot over high heat, add sliced ginger, and stir-fry until fragrant.

2. Add minced ginger and sesame oil, stir-fry until aromatic.

3. Add chicken pieces and stir-fry until the color changes.

4. Add part of the wine (about 100ml), stir-fry and bring to a boil.

5. Add water, stir well, cover, and simmer over low heat for 12 minutes.

6. Uncover, stir briefly, add the remaining wine*, stir well, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat.

7. Turn off the heat and serve hot.

Important Tips:

1. Leave the ginger skin on — stir-frying with the skin makes the aroma stronger and richer.

2. If the wine is cooked too long, the alcohol will evaporate, and lower the flavor.

Dinner: Ginseng Chicken Soup

Ginseng and Silkie chicken is one of the most popular healing soups in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The benefits passed down for generations:

• Boost energy levels

• Enhance brain function and memory

• Strengthen the immune system

• Replenish Qi and blood

• Restore strength after illness, injury, or fatigue

• Calm the mind and reduce anxiety

• Help regulate blood sugar

• Support heart health

  Ingredients:

  • 1 silkie chicken (or white chicken), cut into pieces

  • 2 medium ginseng roots

  • 2 inches ginger, sliced

  • 20 jujubes (red dates)

  • 2 tablespoons goji berries

  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)

  • 1/2 cup cooking rice wine

  • 10 cups filtered water (plus extra for blanching)

  Instructions:

  1. 1. Put chicken pieces in a pot of cold water and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes until foam and scum appear. Discard the water and rinse chicken (and pot) to remove any residue.

  2. 2. In a clean pot, combine chicken, ginger, ginseng roots, and 10 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then simmer with lid on for 1 hour.

  3. 3. Remove ginseng, slice it, and return it to the pot. Add jujubes and simmer for 30 more minutes.

  4. 4. Add rice wine, goji berries, and simmer for 15 minutes. Taste — the soup should be lightly sweet, not too salty. Remove from heat and serve warm.

Bonus: Chinese Red Date Tea with Goji and Longan

Ingredients:

• 15–20 dried red dates (jujubes)

• 2 tablespoons dried goji berries

• 10–12 dried longan berries

• 4 cups water

Instructions:

1. Rinse the red dates, goji berries, and longan berries. Optional: soak for 10–15 minutes to soften.

2. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a pot.

3. Add the red dates, goji berries, and longan berries.

4. Reduce heat and simmer for 30–40 minutes until the flavors meld and the fruits soften.

5. Strain the tea into cups and enjoy warm.