Sp Yang XU- Earth - Nina Gaglio

Warm French Lentils

Serves 4 to 6

2 tablespoons plus ¼ cup good olive oil

1 leek, white and light green parts, sliced ¼ inch thick.

2 carrots, scrubbed and ½ -inch-diced

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 cup French green Le Puy lentils

1 whole onion, peeled and stuck with 6 whole cloves

1 white turnip cut in half

1 teaspoon unsalted butter

4 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon sea salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Lentils- Sweet, Neutral, Spleen, Stomach. Strengthens spleen, harmonizes middle jiao.

Leek/Onion-Warm and Acrid. Promotes sweating, resolves phlegm, regulates qi, reduces toxins.

Carrots- Sweet, Neutral, Spleen, Liver, Lung, Heart. Strengthens spleen and heart, nourishes and soothes liver, benefits the lung and drains damp.

Garlic- Hot and Acrid. Dispels cold resolves toxicity.

Turnip- Cool, Sweet, Bitter, Acrid. Clears heat, removes dampness and stagnant food, detoxifies, stops cough.

Butter- Sweet, Neutral, Spleen, Stomach, Lung. Supplements qi, nourishes blood, moistens dryness.

Dijon Mustard- Sweet, Warm, Liver, Stomach. Strengthens stomach, rectifies qi, harmonizes and warms the middle jiao.

Red wine vinegar- Warm, Sour, Sweet, Sl. Bitter, Pungent, Liver, Stomach. Heart. Invigorates blood, expels cold, clears toxin.

Salt- Salty, Cold, Kidney. Clears heat cools blood, eases bowel movement, nourishes kidney.

Pepper- Pungent, Warm, Stomach, Large Intestine. Warms the middle jiao, descends stomach qi, expels cold and damp.

Clove- Pungent, Warm, Stomach, Kidney. Warms middle jiao, dispels internal cold, warms the Kidney and stops pain.

Overall TCM Functions:

This dish Treats Sp Yang XU, harmonizes Spleen and Stomach resolves damp, supplements qi, nourishes Liver, strengthens the Kidney and benefits the Lung.