干山药（山药），也称为芍药、桂藤或薯蓣，是一种简单但用途广泛的药草，主要用于东方美食。
Dried Chinese Yam (山药), also known as Shao Yao, Cinnamon Vine or Dioscorea Opposita, is a simple but versatile herb used predominantly in Eastern cuisine.
从简单但美味的沙拉到蜜饯甜点，这种草药特别容易用最少的配料或不需要怎么费心便可制作出美味的菜肴。
From simple but tasty salads, to candied sweet snacks, this herb is particularly easy to create delicious dishes with minimal ingredients or effort.
因此，开始准备用5 种快速简便的方法让您的朋友和家人惊叹不已，使用这种中草药……
So, get ready to yam-maze your friends and family with 5 quick and easy ways to use this herb...
山药是什么？What is Dried Chinese Yam?
山药在传统中药中被用作补药，是一种富含碳水化合物和营养丰富的草本植物。
Having been used as a tonic in traditional Chinese medicine, this yam is a carbohydrate and nutrient dense herb.
它是一种原产于东亚的观赏藤本植物，分布于中国、日本、韩国、千岛群岛、菲律宾和越南。现在它也生长在北美的一些地区。
It is an ornamental vine native to East Asia, and can be found across China, Japan, Korea, Kuril Islands, Philippines and Vietnam. It also now grows across some regions in North America.
山药高可达3至5米，根深蒂固，一般生长在9月至10月之间。 其质地 表面略粗糙 ，味道甜而苦。
Growing up to 3 and 5 metres in size, the Chinese Yam is a deep persistent root which typically grows between September and October. In terms of texture, it possesses a slightly rough surface, with a sweet and bitter taste.
山药有什么健康益处？What are the health benefits of Dried Chinese Yam?
作为中医中广为人知的草药，山药成分传统上用于帮助：
Being a well-known herb across Chinese medicine, this ingredient has been used traditionally to help:
- 控制血糖水平 Control blood sugar levels
- 协助女性生殖健康 Assist women's reproductive health
- 促进皮肤健康 Boost skin health
- 补肾健脾 Benefit the kidney and spleen
- 健胃、润肺、补血 Improve stomach, lungs and blood
- 帮助缓解疲劳、消化、哮喘和类风湿性关节炎 Assist with fatigue, digestion, asthma and rheumatoid arthritis
- 帮助控制体内雌激素水平 Help control estrogen levels in the body
- 消除感冒症状 Dispel common cold symptoms
- 帮助减肥 Promote weight loss
- 改善性健康和保健 Improve sexual health and wellness
现在您已经充分了解了山药的作用，下面有 5 种快速简便的方法可以将其纳入您的日常生活中……
So now that you're well equipped with the potential of Dried Chinese Yam, here's 5 quick and easy ways to include this in your everyday routine...
1）最原始的吃法 Raw Form
简单又干净——干山药是一种健康的清淡小吃，可以替代您上午吃的巧克力棒（现在别想着吃它，我们在看着）！
Simple and clean - Dried Chinese Yam makes for a light healthy snack as an alternative to your usual mid-morning chocolate bar (don't even think about eating it now, we're watching)!
只需一把这种草药就足以让您享受到完美的份量！
Just a handful of this herb is a perfect portion for you to enjoy!
2）蜜饯山药 Candied Yams
在加勒比经典菜肴中加入东方风味，这绝对能给爱吃甜食的人带来愉悦的享受！
Putting an Eastern twist on a Caribbean classic, these are a delightful sweet tooth sensation!
以下是制作自己的蜜饯山药的方法……
Here's how to make your own candied yams...
材料 What You'll Need
- 1 大碗切碎的山药（切成圆形） 1 large bowl of chopped yams (into circles)
- 1杯红糖 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1杯白糖 1 cup of white sugar
- 2 块黄油 2 knobs of butter
- 少许肉桂粉 Pinch of ground cinnamon
- 少许酱油 Dash of soy sauce
- 盐少许 Pinch of salt
做法 Method
- 将第一块黄油和白糖一起放入锅中，用小火煎炒，直至混合均匀 Fry the first knob of butter in a pan with the white sugar over a low heat until mixed
- 加入红糖，搅拌均匀（继续搅拌）Add the brown sugar and stir in into all ingredients have combined (continue to stir throughout)
- 将切碎的山药放入深烤盘中，并在上面铺上黄油和糖的混合物 Place the chopped yams in a deep oven tray, and cover with the butter and sugar mixture
- 撒上少许肉桂粉、酱油和盐，让山药闪闪发亮 Sprinkle a little ground cinnamon, soy sauce and salt on top to glisten the yams
- 将第二块黄油切成小薄片，点在山药周围 Chop up the second knob of butter into small thin cubes and dot around the yams
- 放入烤箱，以 4 档温度（160 摄氏度）烘烤 30-45 分钟 Bake in the oven at Gas Mark 4 (160 degrees c) for 30-45 minutes
- 此后取出并静置 5 分钟 Remove after this time and allow to stand for 5 minutes
- 上菜並享受吧！ Serve and enjoy!
- 倒入玻璃杯中，然后上桌享用吧！ Transfer to a glass, then serve and enjoy!
3）山药秋葵沙拉 Chinese Yam & Okra Salad
非常适合夏日，沙拉季节已经到来，对于喜欢充满风味的自然口味的人来说，这是一个不错的选择......
Perfect for a summer's day, salad season is well underway and this is a strong option for those who love a natural taste packed full of flavour...
材料 What You'll Need
- 1 大碗长片山药 1 large bowl of long sliced yams
- 1 杯秋葵丝 1 cup of shredded okra
- 3 根葱 3 spring onions
- 少许酱油 Dash of soy sauce
- 盐少许 Pinch of salt
做法 Method
- 洗净山药，然后放入另一个碗中 Wash the Chinese yams and then place in a separate bowl
- 在上面加一杯切碎的秋葵 Add the cup of shredded okra on top
- 将葱切成小块，放在沙拉上面装饰 Slice the spring onions into small pieces and garnish the salad on top
- 加入少许酱油，让沙拉更美味 Add a dash of soy sauce to give your salad some extra flavour
- 加少许盐调味即可 Season with a pinch of salt to complete
- 上菜並享受吧！ Serve and enjoy!
4）山药汤 Chinese Yam Herb Soup
将甜味和咸味的成分组合在一起，当您需要天然的提神剂时，这是一种很棒的暖身剂……
材料 What You'll Need
- 2 只猪腿（蒸熟） 2 pork legs (steam cooked)
- 大枣 3-4颗 3-4 big jujube dates
- 2 山药 2 Chinese Yams
- 一把枸杞 Handful of goji berries
- 2 颗切碎的香菇 2 chopped shiitake mushrooms
- 盐少许 Pinch of salt
- 一壶开水 Pot of boiling water
做法 Method
- 将蒸好的猪腿放入开水锅中，然后加入其余材料，小火煮 1 小时 Add the steamed pork legs to the pan of boiled water, then add the rest of the ingredient and allow to simmer on a low heat for 1 hour
- 在煮沸结束前加入少许盐，再轻轻搅拌 5 分钟 Add a pinch of salt just before the end of simmering, and stir gently for a further 5 minutes
- 关火，静置 5 分钟 Remove from heat and allow to stand for 5 minutes
- 上菜並享受吧！ Serve and enjoy!
5）山药粉（用于冰沙、奶昔等）
召集所有的健身爱好者，这是你肯定不想错过的。
Calling all gym bunnies, this is one you surely won't want to miss.
