Núc nác is a forest tree, often grown in the highland provinces of the Northwest, and is entering the harvest season. In addition to being a folk medicine with many uses, núc nác is also processed into special dishes by the Thai people of the Northwest.
The núc nác fruit is flat and curved. Photo: Internet
The núc nác fruit is flat and curved, about 40 - 80cm long, usually in season from July to September, which is the rainy season in the Northwest. Every season, people often go to the forest to collect the fruit and process it into many rustic and delicious dishes.
On the dinner tables of Thai families, traditional dishes made from núc nác fruit are prepared by the skillful hands of mothers and sisters, making the cuisine of the people more unique and distinctive.
The Thai people in the Northwestern provinces commonly call the núc nác fruit “lìn áng ca” or “mák áng ca”. The núc nác fruit is flat and curved, about 40 – 80 cm long, 5 – 7 cm wide, and mainly bears fruit during the rainy season. From the núc nác fruit, the Thai people have prepared many dishes that are both rustic, delicious and unique.
Núc nác can be boiled and dipped, or thinly sliced and stir-fried with buffalo or beef, each with its own rich flavor. One of the most typical dishes is núc nác salad (also known as goi). There are many ways to make salad. Some people grill núc nác first and then make salad, others boil it, slice it, and mix it with a mixture of spices such as MSG, fish sauce, salt, garlic, chili... The most popular is to grill núc nác and then mix it with vegetables to make salad.
Núc nác salad is prepared quite simply, the main ingredients include: núc nác fruit, minced grilled fish or pork, herbs (sliced coriander and perilla), crushed roasted peanuts, and lemon.
Núc Nác salad has a bitter and slightly sour taste. Photo: Internet
First, you have to choose young or not too old núc nác fruits, just 1-2 fruits are enough for a full plate. Then, the núc nác is grilled on a wood stove until both sides are even, grilled until the outer shell peels off and feels soft to the touch. After grilling the núc nác, remove the outer shell and cut into small strips. Mix the sliced núc nác with peanuts, spices including salt, MSG, lemon, and coriander so that the núc nác absorbs evenly. Finally, put it on a plate and enjoy the results.
Núc nác salad is often eaten with shrimp paste. The bittersweet taste of núc nác combined with spices gives the dish a very unique flavor. It may be a bit strange for first-time eaters, but once you get used to it, you will remember it forever.
During the núc nác season, usually from July to September of the solar calendar, which is the rainy season in the Northwest, people go to the forest to collect núc nác fruits and burn them over charcoal, until the outside is slightly burnt and puffy, then use a knife to peel off all the burnt parts, wash them clean, and then cut the fruit horizontally into small pieces the size of a finger.
Sliced núc nác and eaten with astringent leaves and dipped in cham cheo. Photo: VOV
Núc nác is eaten with gém leaves, piper lolot leaves, ginger leaves and dipped in cham cheo (a type of dipping sauce pounded together from many spices of the Thai people) which is very delicious, with the slightly bitter taste of the núc nác fruit, combined with the sweet and astringent taste of gém leaves, the spicy taste of cham cheo, anyone who has ever eaten it will find it hard to forget. In addition, núc nác can also be made into salads such as vegetable salad, boiled and dipped, stir-fried with buffalo meat, beef, all of which have their own rich flavor. Ms. Tong Thi Bien, a resident of Mong village, Hua La commune, Son La city, Son La province, said: The best time to enjoy núc nác is when it is about 40-60cm long, if the fruit is too old it will have a lot of fibers and be a bit tough to eat. The way to prepare it will depend on each person's taste and preference.
Some people like to eat salad, but the salad must be grilled first to be fragrant. Some people boil it, then slice it, mix it with fish sauce, MSG, herbs, ginger, lemongrass, garlic, chili, astringent leaves, and sprinkle with sesame and peanuts like vegetable salad.
Nowadays, not only do people go to the forest to pick núc nác fruit, but the Thai people in the Northwest also look for núc nác trees to bring home and plant in gardens near their homes to have fruit to eat, because the trees are easy to grow and have the ability to withstand drought and heat well. In addition to serving family meals, people also sell núc nác fruits, so during the núc nác season, many families have a source of income from this fruit.
Ms. Quang Thi Lien, who specializes in selling núc nác fruit in Son La City, Son La Province, said: In the past, no one bought or sold núc nác fruit, people in the highlands only ate it. But now many people love to eat it, so people in the villages know how to sell núc nác. During the núc nác season like now, I often buy and sell at the agricultural market, on average I sell 20 to 30 fruits per day, some days I sell up to 40-50 fruits.
Going to the Northwest during the harvest season of núc nác fruit, visitors will see núc nác fruit sold in many highland markets. In particular, at restaurants selling ethnic cuisine, visitors will also enjoy many typical rustic dishes, including dishes made from núc nác fruit./.
Yanjiang
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