Depending on each region, củ kiệu has different names such as cò kiệu, giới căn, giới kiệu, dã toán,… In traditional medicine, củ kiệu has a pungent taste, bitter, warm nature. It works to dispel wind, facilitate bowel movements, dissolve stasis, relieve pain, and warm the stomach. It is used to treat chronic rhinitis, dry vomiting, swollen and painful joints, burns, abdominal pain, chest tightness and difficulty breathing, support digestion, and reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.
The most common way to prepare củ kiệu is to pickle it. You can refer to the following method.
Ingredients for sweet and sour pickled củ kiệu
– Fresh củ kiệu: 350 – 500g
– Chili peppers (big ones, not spicy): 70-100g
– Garlic: 30-50g
– Salt, vinegar, sugar,…
How to make sweet and sour pickled củ kiệu
Preparing the ingredients
– Sun-dry the củ kiệu, cut off the leaves and roots, soak in diluted salt water for about 2-3 hours, then rinse thoroughly.
– Peel the garlic, cut off the stems of the chili peppers, wash and let them dry…
Processing
– First, put the củ kiệu in a glass jar or ceramic jar. Then pour warm water about 35-40°C to cover the củ kiệu. Add vinegar and salt and sugar with a ratio of 15-20ml of salt per 1 liter of water, 10-15ml of sugar per 1 liter of water. The ratio of vinegar depends on the weather, if it’s hot, use 15-20ml of vinegar per 1 liter of water, if it’s cold, you can increase the amount of vinegar to stimulate fermentation. Use a weight to make sure the củ kiệu is submerged. Keep the củ kiệu at room temperature for 10-15 days until it becomes pickled.
– After pickling the củ kiệu, you can make pickled chili peppers and garlic. Put the chili peppers and garlic in a ceramic jar or glass jar, pour water, vinegar, salt, and sugar to cover the ingredients. The ratio of vinegar to water is 3/1. The ratio of salt is 2ml salt, 3-5ml sugar per 100ml water. Keep the chili peppers and garlic at room temperature for 3-5 days, then drain off the liquid. Put the chili peppers and garlic in a blender, blend into a coarse chili sauce. Then put it in a glass jar and store it in the refrigerator.
– When eating, take out the pickled củ kiệu and the pickled chili pepper and garlic to mix. 30 minutes before eating, mix the pickled củ kiệu with sugar and chili sauce to taste.
You can eat this dish with boiled meat, grilled meat, roasted meat,… it will be very appetizing and prevent greasiness.