Pork is a popular food in family meals. When we go to the market on a daily basis, we often only buy pork loin, pork belly, pork butt, or pork ribs… without knowing that there are 2 parts of the pig that are very delicious and rich in nutritional value.
Pig tail
In addition to the tongue and cheek bones, there is another part of the pig that few people pay attention to when buying, but it is very valuable for health, and that is the pig tail. Some people may hesitate to buy pig tails because they think it doesn’t contain much meat and seems bland. However, pig tails are an important part and have many health benefits.
The tails of livestock have been used since ancient times with the function of strengthening bones to treat many diseases, especially in treating kidney deficiency, back pain, and fatigue in the limbs. In the case of pig tails, it not only has the effect of replenishing energy but also helps nourish blood, support the treatment of kidney impairment, impotence, and premature ejaculation.
Below are some kidney tonic recipes using pig tails:
Braised pig tail with black beans:
Effects: Tonify kidney and invigorate yang, moisturize intestines and facilitate bowel movements, suitable for kidney deficiency, impotence, and constipation.
Ingredients: Pig tail: about 250g
Fructus evodiae: 30g
Black beans: 15g
Red apples: 3 fruits
Method: Remove the fat from the pig tail, clean it, and cut it into sections. Clean the fructus evodiae, black beans, and red apples (remove the seeds). Put all the ingredients in a pot, add enough water, bring to a boil, then simmer for 1 – 2 hours, season with spices according to taste. Pig tail with trần bì:
Effects: Strengthen kidney, benefit essence. Treat back pain, frequent urination, fatigue, tinnitus, blurred vision, spermatorrhea, female infertility, stomach pain.
Ingredients: Pig tail: 100g
Trần bì (pork rind): 1 piece
Apricot kernels: 10 seeds (peeled)
Lạc nhân (pine nut): 10 seeds
Salt
Method: Clean the pig tail, cut it into short segments. Bring water to a boil, add pig tail, pork rind, apricot kernels, pine nuts, simmer until all ingredients are cooked, season with salt to taste, serve hot.
Pork tongue and cheek bones
The tongue and cheek bones of the pig are not a commonly known meat part. Located at the junction of the front leg of the pig, the tongue and cheek bones have a shape similar to a tongue and also contain cartilage, providing a characteristic crispness. It is often used for braising soups or cooking soups, and this part is not only delicious but also very nutritious.
Because of its high value, some sellers often keep the tongue and cheek bones for their families’ use, which makes few people know about this valuable meat part. The important thing is that the tongue and cheek bones contain a lot of collagen, protein, and vitamins. Regular consumption can stimulate bone development, prevent osteoporosis, and enhance the immune system.
Benefits of tongue and cheek bones:
Calcium supplementation: Tongue and cheek bones have a high calcium content, which is an ideal nutritional source for children in the developmental stage and the elderly with bone density problems.
Nutritional supply: Pork tongue and cheek bones are rich in protein and contain soluble nitrogen, providing diverse and high-quality nutrients for the body.
Especially, women can add some tongue and cheek bones to their diet during pregnancy to effectively supplement calcium. The health and nutritional benefits it brings cannot be denied.