The meals enjoyed by astronauts after landing are a topic of great interest to many people.
When the Shenzhou 18 spacecraft returned to Earth in the early hours of November 4, the astronauts were treated to a nutritious and varied meal. Their post-space work menu, after six months in orbit, included beef noodles, steamed eggs, soy sauce marinated beef, stewed goat meat with radish, shredded potatoes, broccoli, pickled radish, baked buns, steamed buns, millet porridge, cherry tomatoes, melons, and grapes…
Among these, the stewed goat meat with radish is almost an indispensable dish in the first meal after the return of all astronauts from previous missions like Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10.
Nutritious dish for astronauts: stewed goat meat with radish. (Photo: Weibo).
Stewed goat meat with radish is one of the beloved traditional dishes in China, often enjoyed as a nutritious soup during the winter months. According to traditional medicine, goat meat has warming properties, is good for the spleen, strengthens the kidneys, boosts yang energy, and nourishes blood and qi. Goat meat is tender, easy to digest, and rich in essential trace elements such as copper, iron, and selenium. White radish is cooling, sweet in taste, and helps to clear heat, nourish qi, and reduce phlegm.
Radish is also referred to as “the winter ginseng” because it contains a lot of water, low energy, and fat, while having a certain amount of carbohydrates and fiber. These components can enhance gastric motility, increase appetite, promote digestion, and facilitate fat metabolism. It also contains vitamins A, carotene, B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and other minerals.
Stewing white radish with goat meat not only eliminates the gamey smell of the meat but also provides moisturizing benefits, reduces greasiness and heat, and prevents internal heat.
Working in the unique environment of space places tremendous pressure on astronauts’ bodies. Additionally, temperatures in space are often extremely cold. From this perspective, it is no coincidence that stewed goat meat with radish is frequently chosen as the first meal for astronauts upon landing.
