Simply Steamed Eggplant (Qing Zheng Ai Gua)

Why people make this dish

Eggplant is not the most glamorous vegetable — but in Cantonese food therapy, its simplest preparation (steamed, with just oil and salt) is one of the classic remedies for hemorrhoid-related bleeding and bowel inflammation. The reason lies in its vitamin P content: specifically rutin, a bioflavonoid that helps maintain the integrity of small blood vessels (capillaries), which underpins its traditional use for hemorrhoid bleeding, intestinal bleeding, and skin bruising from fragile capillaries. Steaming over rice is the traditional method — the gentle, moist heat preserves more of the vegetable’s nutrients and results in a remarkably tender, silky texture that is genuinely delicious and very easy to eat.