Health & Life

Super Calcium-Rich Vegetable: 36 Times More Calcium Than Bone Broth, Delicious Raw or Cooked, No Worries of Getting Fat

This is a kind of vegetable that brings many health benefits, but not everyone knows about it.

4 March, 2024

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This type of vegetable is called persicaria odorata. This is a type of vegetable with the same family as lettuce and is widely grown in our country but not everyone knows its amazing effects.

Persicaria odorata belongs to the herbaceous plant, in the form of a cylindrical trunk and branches at the top. The leaves grow alternately from the trunk, the stem is soft, the leaves are long and large but not curled. At the same time, the leaves have a thin texture and appear slightly serrated on both leaf edges. As the leaves grow higher, the heads become smaller.

Persicaria odorata is often processed into delicious dishes such as salad, regular raw vegetables or sandwiches. This type of vegetable can also be used to cook soup, make hot pot, which is very suitable…

Nutrition in persicaria odorata

Rich in calcium

Persicaria odorata contains a rich amount of calcium. Each 100 grams of persicaria odorata contains 70 milligrams of free calcium. Many people may not imagine it, so let’s compare it with bone broth. Many elderly people always believe that pork bone broth is the “best choice” to provide calcium. Although most of the components of pork bones are calcium, they are not in the form of free calcium. Therefore, no matter how long the bone is cooked, the calcium is difficult to dissolve in water. Therefore, the calcium content in bone broth is actually not high.

Rich in vitamins

Persicaria odorata is a very rich source of vitamins. Raw persicaria odorata contains a large amount of vitamin A and beta-carotene (beta-carotene converts to vitamin A in the body). When you consume this type of food, the vitamin A in persicaria odorata will help maintain healthy skin by promoting mucous membranes.

In addition, persicaria odorata also contains vitamins B1, B2 and many other nutrients.

Rich in minerals

In addition to being rich in vitamins, persicaria odorata also contains a rich source of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese… These minerals help stimulate metabolism in the body. Potassium helps regulate the balance of body fluids, thereby stabilizing blood pressure and improving cardiovascular health. The strength of teeth and bones is also enhanced thanks to the large amount of calcium in persicaria odorata. Iron and copper are important factors in the process of producing red blood cells in the body. Therefore, persicaria odorata is a very beneficial food for your health. However, to maintain a healthy and flexible body, it is also necessary to combine with good habits such as a healthy diet, regular exercise and physical activity before consuming this type of vegetable.

Some delicious dishes from persicaria odorata

Stir-fried persicaria odorata with chicken and mushrooms for a quick dinner

To avoid boredom and blandness from familiar dishes. You can quickly make stir-fried persicaria odorata with chicken and mushrooms for dinner after a busy day.

The ingredients to prepare are very simple

500g persicaria odorata

2 chicken thighs

5 dried mushroom ears

3 cloves of garlic

Seasonings: Chicken powder, cooking oil, oyster sauce

How to make:

Step 1:

Wash and cut the persicaria odorata in half. Filter and slice the chicken thighs. Soak the dried mushrooms until soft and slice them.

Step 2:

Heat a little cooking oil in a pan, add the garlic to stir-fry until fragrant, then add the chicken to stir-fry until cooked. Add a little chicken powder and oyster sauce for seasoning.

Step 3:

Add the mushrooms and stir-fry.

Step 4:

Add the persicaria odorata and stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes over high heat until cooked, then season to taste and it’s done.

Persicaria odorata with its characteristic aroma and crispy and sweet taste when stir-fried with chicken brings not only delicious but also fragrant dishes.

Cooking delicious persicaria odorata soup with minced meat

Ingredients:

500g persicaria odorata

200g minced meat

2 tomatoes

Scallions, cooking oil, salt, chicken powder (chicken powder).

How to make:

Step 1: Prepare ingredients for persicaria odorata soup

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

Split the persicaria odorata, discard the yellowing leaves. Then rinse them and soak them in diluted saltwater for about 10 – 15 minutes to make them cleaner.

Rinse the tomatoes, cut into wedges.

Rinse the scallions. Take a small piece of the head of the scallion to stir-fry until fragrant.

Step 2: Cook persicaria odorata soup with minced meat

We put the pan on the stove, add a little cooking oil. When the oil is hot, add the scallion to stir-fry (can be replaced with shallots). Then add the minced meat to stir-fry until the meat absorbs the spices evenly. When the meat is almost cooked, add a little salt and tomatoes. Stir well until the tomato sauce is soft. Add a little water and bring to a boil, taste again to suit your taste.

When the water starts boiling, the tomato is soft, add the persicaria odorata 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 chicken powder before turning off the heat). Prepare a bowl and pour the soup in to enjoy.

Step 3: Finished product of persicaria odorata soup with minced meat

So with just a few simple ingredients, we can make our own delicious and affordable soup for a family meal. In addition, we can also use chicken broth, bone broth to cook persicaria odorata soup.

Frequently asked questions

Persicaria odorata is a rich source of nutrients, including calcium, vitamins (such as vitamin A, beta-carotene, B1, and B2), and minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron, and copper. It has higher levels of free calcium compared to bone broth, making it a good source of this essential mineral. The vitamins and minerals in persicaria odorata offer various health benefits, including maintaining healthy skin, stimulating metabolism, regulating body fluids, stabilizing blood pressure, and improving cardiovascular health.

Persicaria odorata is often used in salads, sandwiches, and as a raw vegetable. It can also be cooked in dishes such as stir-fries, soups, and hot pots. Its unique aroma and crispy, sweet taste when stir-fried or cooked in soups make it a delicious and fragrant addition to various recipes.

A quick and easy stir-fry can be made with persicaria odorata, chicken, and mushrooms. Simply prepare 500g of persicaria odorata, 2 chicken thighs, 5 dried mushroom ears, and 3 cloves of garlic. Slice the vegetables and meat, and then stir-fry the garlic, followed by the chicken and mushrooms. Add seasonings like chicken powder and oyster sauce to taste, and finally, stir-fry the persicaria odorata for 2-3 minutes until cooked.

To make a delicious soup, you’ll need 500g of persicaria odorata, 200g of minced meat, 2 tomatoes, scallions, cooking oil, salt, and chicken powder. First, marinate the minced meat with chicken powder. Prepare the persicaria odorata by removing any yellowing leaves, rinsing, and soaking in diluted saltwater. Rinse and cut the tomatoes and scallions. Stir-fry the scallions, then add the minced meat and continue stir-frying until the meat is almost cooked. Add salt, tomatoes, and water, and bring to a boil. Finally, add the persicaria odorata and cook until the soup boils, then turn off the heat and serve.