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Food & Receipts

The Musa Flower: From Pig Feed to Asia’s Ultimate Delicacy – Unveiling Two Simple Recipes

12 November, 2024

Vietnam proudly boasts three signature dishes in the top 86 mixed dishes recognized by Taste Atlas in August. Besides pho and beef salad, the Vietnamese banana blossom salad ranked 20th thanks to its harmonious combination of fresh vegetables such as banana blossom, cucumber, papaya, green mango, chili, and roasted peanuts. In some regions, boiled shredded chicken or beef jerky is added to enhance the flavor of this dish. The salad is usually mixed with a sweet and sour fish sauce and often served with shrimp crackers.

Banana blossom, a common ingredient in Vietnam, was once underrated and only fed to livestock. However, it has now become a specialty in many dishes, especially hot pots and salads. According to traditional medicine doctor Bui Hong Minh, Vice Chairman of Ba Dinh Oriental Medicine Association, banana blossom is known in traditional medicine for its sweet taste and cold nature, helping to treat problems such as bloating and irregular menstruation.

In addition to these benefits, banana blossom is also rich in valuable nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium. Incorporating banana blossom into your daily diet is not only healthy but also has beauty and anti-aging effects. Especially, antioxidants such as quercetin and catechin in banana blossom help improve glucose absorption, thereby reducing blood sugar levels and better controlling blood sugar status.

Banana blossom is rich in valuable nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium

Pork Ear and Banana Blossom Salad

Ingredients:

– 1 banana blossom

– 1 pork ear

– 1 carrot

– Fresh herbs such as basil, coriander, etc.

– 100g roasted peanuts

– Lime or kumquat

– 1 clove of garlic, ginger root

– 2-3 chili peppers

– Fish sauce, sugar, chili sauce, salt, cooking oil

Preparation:

– Prepare the banana blossom: First, soak the banana blossom slices in diluted salt water with a squeeze of lime or lemon juice for about 15 minutes to retain their color and reduce bitterness. Then, drain and set aside.

– Cook the pork ear: Boil the pork ear in water with a pinch of salt, a few crushed ginger slices, and a quarter of a lime. Once cooked, immediately soak the ear in cold water for about 5 minutes, then drain and slice thinly.

– Prepare the garlic: Finely chop the garlic and divide it into two portions for the following steps.

– Make the dressing: Sauté half of the chopped garlic. Then, add 2 spoons of fish sauce and 1 spoon of sugar to the pan. Cook over low heat until the mixture thickens slightly. Add a dash of chili sauce and turn off the heat. Once cooled, squeeze in some lime juice and stir to combine.

– Toss the salad: In a large bowl, combine the banana blossom slices with the dressing. Add grated carrot for color and extra crunch. Then, add half of the chopped garlic and the sliced pork ear, tossing to coat. Let the flavors marinate for about 5 minutes, then drain off any excess liquid.

– Finish the dish: Finally, sprinkle with fried shallots, roasted peanuts, chopped fresh herbs, and chili peppers. Your delicious and attractive pork ear and banana blossom salad is ready to be served.

This unique and tasty salad provides not only a delightful dining experience but also delivers a nutritious punch with its fresh and healthy ingredients. It will surely add a twist of excitement to your meals!

Clam and Banana Blossom Salad

Ingredients:

– 250g fresh clam meat

– 1 banana blossom

– 1/2 orange

– Fresh herbs such as basil, coriander, and mint

– Seasonings: fish sauce, pepper, sugar

Preparation:

– Make the dressing: In a small bowl, mix orange juice with fish sauce, pepper, and sugar. Whisk until well combined and set aside.

– Prepare the ingredients: Thinly slice the banana blossom and soak it in salted water to retain its color and freshness. Rinse the clam meat thoroughly to remove any impurities.

– Toss the salad: In a large bowl, add the fresh herbs and pour the dressing over them. Toss well to coat the herbs with the dressing.

– Add the clams: Finally, gently fold in the clam meat. Let the flavors meld for 5-10 minutes before serving.

This clam and banana blossom salad is not only appealing but also refreshing, making it an excellent choice for parties or family meals. The fresh taste of clams combined with the crispness of banana blossom and herbs will surely delight your taste buds!