Breathe-Easy Fritillaria Pear

This is a simple and effective recipe when suffering from dry cough, asthma or allergies.  Grab some pears at the farmers market and make this recipe soon!

Ingredients

• About 1 tablespoon (10 grams) fritillaria (chuan bei mu)
• 1 large ripe pear, any variety 
• 2 teaspoons honey, or to taste

Directions1)
1) Place the fritillaria in a coffee mill, spice grinder, or food processor and whir into a powder (this may take some time).
2) Wash (but don't peel) the pear. Cut off the top third of the pear and reserve. Cut out the core of the bottom part of the pear, making a hole but leaving the bottom and outside intact. 
3) Place the fritillaria powder in the hole, then add the honey. Replace the top of the pear.
4) Transfer the pear to a steamer and cook, covered, for about 40 minutes, or until soft. (If you don't have a steamer, steam the pear in a glass or ceramic bowl placed in a covered pot containing an inch of water.) 
5) Serve warm as a dessert or snack.

The pears can be baked instead of steamed. Preheat the to 350 degrees and bake for about 40 minutes or until soft. 
Try this dish with an Asian pear - a delicious variation. 

Especially Good for
Anyone suffering from a dry cough, dry throat, bronchitis, asthma, or allergies. If you are eating this dish for therapeutic reasons, we recommend eating this dish once a day for three to seven days.

About Fritillaria
Fritillaria (a.k.a. Fritillariae Cirrhosae or chuan bei mu, which literally translates from the Chinese as "shell mother from Sichuan," grows in China and Nepal and produces a white bulb that is bitter and sweet. In addition to its uses to clear the lungs, in China the bulbs also have a tradition of use against breast and lung cancer.

For Those Familiar With Chinese MedicineThis dish moistens the Lung, clears Heat, and transforms phlegm.

Excerpted from Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life 
(Da Capo Lifelong Books)