Shepherd’s Purse

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With the spring drawing nearer, the warmer weather brings along an unwelcome guest. It is spring fatigue. The spring herb shepherd's purse is good for boosting bodily vitality during this listless time. Here’s more in today’s close up.

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Groups of people are busy digging land in a vast field. They are picking shepherd's purse, which is a harbinger of spring. After overcoming the winter, spring shepherd's purse is full of nutrition. Its roots should be preserved, since they are nutritious as well.

[Soundbite] Prof. Choi Nam-soon(Baewha Women's University) : "Shepherd's purse has antioxidant effects, as Vitamin A and C are contained in its leaves. It is known that the herb helps detoxify the liver, since its roots contain more antioxidants, such as choline."

Shepherd's purse is nicknamed the ginseng of spring, as it helps warm up the body and detoxify the liver. Here are tips on choosing good-quality shepherd's purse. Shepherd's purse with thin roots are better, since the roots get thinner when they grow underground deeper. It is recommendable to choose those with slightly brownish leaves, which mean the shepherd's purse was sufficiently exposed to sunlight. Let's make some seasonal dishes with the spring herb. The plant needs to be cleaned and prepared appropriately before cooking. Dirt and rootlets are removed with a knife. The trimmed shepherd's purse is soaked in vinegary water for one or two minutes.

[Soundbite] Kim Sun-young(Culinary Expert) : "Vinegary water has sterilizing effects. Acetate in vinegar helps remove dirt better."

Last, it is rinsed in clean water. Now, we are going to make oil pasta with shepherd's purse. First, shepherd's purse is blanched in boiling water to make it soft and remove its bitter taste. Make sure that the green is boiled for about ten seconds in order not to overcook it. It is immediately soaked in cold water to preserve its texture. After water is removed, the shepherd's purse is cut into small pieces. Next, pasta noodles are boiled and other ingredients, such as garlic, onions, peppers and bacon, are chopped. The prepared ingredients are stir-fried with olive oil in a pan. Noodles and shepherd's purse go in last.

[Soundbite] Kim Sun-young(Culinary Expert) : "It is better to put shepherd's purse last and cook it lightly, since the green's texture is ruined when it is put from the first and overly cooked."

With the addition of shepherd's purse, the pasta offers the fresh smell of spring. Let's make fried shepherd's purse. Shepherd's purse, salt and flour are put together in a plastic bag. They are shaken lightly to mix. Well-covered in batter, the greens are fried in oil pre-heated at 170 degrees. Chopsticks are used to spread out the leaves of shepherd's purse in their original form. After two minutes in oil, the herb becomes crispy and savory. Shepherd's purse is known to help dispel drowsiness and stimulate appetite in spring. Protect yourself from spring fatigue with the help of shepherd's purse.