Discover the calcium-rich vegetable that contains 36 times more calcium than bone broth, whether eaten raw or cooked it’s delicious and won’t make you gain weight

Rau diếp thơm, also known as mồng tơi, is a popular type of lettuce plant grown in many regions of Vietnam.

It is a fast-growing plant with a herbaceous stem and branching at the top. The leaves of rau diếp thơm are long and large, not curled, growing singly from the stem. The leaf stems are soft and have slight saw-like edges on both sides. As the plant grows taller, the leaf tips become thinner.

Rau diếp thơm plays an important role in providing nutrition, especially beneficial for children in their development stage, the elderly, and premenopausal women. This type of vegetable is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, calcium, iron, and protein, providing a good condition for consumption.

In addition, rau diếp thơm is also a main ingredient for many delicious dishes such as salads, traditional raw vegetables, sandwiches, soups, hotpots, and many more.

Health benefits of rau diếp thơm

– Rau diếp thơm not only helps cool down the body and aid in weight loss, thanks to its cooling and fire-reducing effects, but it also has many other health benefits.

– If you regularly eat rau diếp thơm, you will be provided with a large amount of zeaxanthin, which helps improve eyesight and prevent cataracts. Additionally, rau diếp also contains flavonoids, which help prevent lung and oral cancer.

– Fresh rau diếp also contains a lot of vitamin A and beta-carotene, which helps maintain healthy skin and good eyesight.

– Rau diếp thơm is also good for reproductive health, with folate aiding in maintaining the health of the fetus during pregnancy and vitamin C improving the immune system and fighting against infections.

– Lastly, vitamin K in rau diếp thơm helps accumulate calcium and strengthen the skeletal system, preventing osteoporosis. Therefore, rau diếp thơm is a vegetable that is very good for health.

Delicious rau diếp thơm soup with minced meat

Ingredients:

500g rau diếp thơm

200g minced meat

2 tomatoes

Spring onion, cooking oil, salt, seasoning powder (stock cubes).

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the ingredients for rau diếp soup

Marinate the minced meat with 1 tablespoon of seasoning powder for 15 minutes.

Split rau diếp thơm, removing the yellowed leaves. Then wash them and soak them in diluted saltwater for about 10 – 15 minutes to make them cleaner.

Wash the tomatoes and cut them into wedges.

Wash the spring onions. Chop the head of the onions to release the aroma.

Step 2: Cook the rau diếp thơm meat soup

Heat a little cooking oil in a pan and sauté the spring onions until aromatic, then add the minced meat and stir-fry until the meat absorbs the seasoning. When the meat is nearly cooked, add a little salt and tomatoes. Stir-fry until the tomatoes become soft. Add a little water, bring it to a boil, and taste it again for seasoning.

When the water starts boiling and the tomatoes are soft, add the rau diếp and stir well. Because the vegetable cooks quickly, just wait for the soup to boil and then turn off the heat (you can add a little seasoning powder before turning off the heat). Prepare a bowl and pour the soup in to enjoy.

Rau diếp thơm can be eaten raw. Besides, it can also be cooked into various delicious dishes such as stir-fried, boiled, steamed, salad, served with hotpots or grilled meat, or made into soup.

Step 3: The finished rau diếp beef soup

The rau diếp soup with minced meat is done, the soup has a sweet and refreshing taste. The green color of the rau diếp and the red color of the tomatoes are visually appealing. Especially, the rau diếp retains its crispiness and freshness.

Now with just a few simple ingredients, we can make a delicious and affordable soup for a family meal. Additionally, we can also use chicken broth or bone broth to cook rau diếp soup.

The soup is very light, refreshing, and appetizing.

You can try making other dishes from rau diếp thơm for your daily family meals.

Quick stir-fried rau diếp thơm with chicken and mushrooms for the evening meal

To avoid boredom and monotony from familiar dishes, you can quickly make a stir-fried rau diếp thơm with chicken and mushrooms for the evening meal after a busy day.

The ingredients are very simple.

Ingredients:

500g rau diếp thơm

2 chicken thighs

5 dried shiitake mushrooms

3 cloves of garlic

Seasonings: Stock cubes, cooking oil, oyster sauce

Instructions:

Step 1:

Wash the rau diếp thơm and cut it in half. Separate the meat from the chicken thighs and slice it. Soak the shiitake mushrooms until soft and then slice them.

Step 2:

Heat a little cooking oil in a pan, add garlic and stir-fry until aromatic, then add the chicken and stir-fry until it is cooked. Season with a little stock cube, oyster sauce to make the meat absorb the flavors.

Step 3:

Add the shiitake mushrooms and stir-fry.

The finished dish may not look special, but it has a crispy, sweet, and aromatic taste.

Step 4:

Add the rau diếp thơm and stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes over high heat until it is cooked, and then adjust the seasoning to taste.

The distinctive aroma and crisp and sweet taste of rau diếp thơm when stir-fried with chicken make a dish that is not only tasty but also fragrant.