Some Classic Post-Natal Dishes


    CHICKEN WINE ("KAI CHAO")
    (Traditionally made  for Distributing to  relatives. For Cantonese, this is done on the 12th day after Delivery. New mothers are encouraged to drink this Chicken Wine to promote blood circulation & invigorate major organs in the body.)

    200g Chicken Wing Sticks / "Drumettes"
    10g "Mok Yee" (wood fungus), soaked & shredded
    50g raw peanuts, soaked overnight & drained
    1 cup Chinese Rice Wine / DOM
    2 cups hot water
    1 tsp sesame seed oil
    1 clove garlic, minced
    4 slices old ginger, shredded
     

  • Marinate Chicken (use: 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp soy, 1 tsp oil) for 5mins.
  • Heat sesame seed oil. Fry ginger & garlic until fragrant.
  • Add Wood Fungus, peanuts, & chicken. Stir Fry well for a minute or 2.
  • Pour in the Chinese Wine & 2 cups hot water. Bring to a Boil and cook for a minute. Serve.
     
    "CHU KIOK CHOU" (VINEGARED PIG'S TROTTERS)
    (Chinese believe Black Vinegar purifies the blood, Old Ginger drives out wind, and Brown Sugar puts a check on "dampness".  Pigs' Trotters are said to provide collagen and is good for strengthening joints & lumbar. Sesame Seed Oil is also to promote blood circulation and the eggs to nourish the body.  But for most of us, we just LOVE to eat this dish - whether confinement or not!  This is also a dish popularly offered to relatives & neighbours who visit.)

    2 Pig's Trotters
    1 kg Old Ginger, skinned & smashed lightly
    4 Tbsp Sesame Seed Oil 
    1 bottle (~4cups) Black Vinegar
    600g Brown Sugar
    4 Hard Boiled Eggs, shelled
    9 cups water
     

  • Clean & pluck off the hair from the pig's trotters. Cut into Big serving pieces.
  • Heat Sesame Seed Oil. Fry Old ginger until golden brown & fragrant.
  • Put fried ginger into a BIG claypot. Add vinegar, water, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil and leave to simmer for 1/2 an hour until ginger becomes soft.
  • Add pig's trotters and continue to simmer until soft & tender (approx. 2hrs)
  • Add shelled hard-boiled eggs 1/2 and hour before serving.  My confinement Nanny puts the eggs in with its shells still on though.  This way, the vinegar will dissolve the shells and provide more calcium for the mother in confinement!

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    This dish also tastes nicer upon standing for  days! If you can spare your crockpot/slowcooker, you can also prepare this Popular Dish in your crockpot.
     

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