Lao Cai: Dishes made from the Northwest region's "forest shoots" specialties attract diners

March and April come, when the white Bauhinia and Bauhinia flowers bloom on the hillsides of the Northwest, it is also the time when forest trees sprout and grow.

On this occasion, Lao Cai wild bamboo shoots such as bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots... or sprouts and shoots such as cardamom sprouts, galangal bamboo shoots enter their peak season.

Almost every corner of the mountain market has this specialty. The people of Lao Cai highlands call it "forest buds" or "forest shoots" because they have long been known as a unique specialty, carrying the natural and characteristic flavor of this land.

Along with the strong development of tourism, dishes made from "forest shoots" of ethnic groups in Lao Cai leave unforgettable impressions on tourists.

The bamboo shoot season in Lao Cai usually lasts from February to May. Many dishes made from bamboo shoots are not only popular in daily meals but also present in wedding banquets, especially ethnic specialty restaurants always have this dish on the menu.

The Tay people in Van Ban, Bao Yen, mainly live in the foothills, where there are many different types of bamboo, which means that young bamboo shoots are also more diverse.

Mr. An Van Tuan, Chieng Ken commune, Van Ban district said that the Tay people use wild bamboo shoots to create many dishes with rich flavors such as stir-fried bamboo shoots with garlic, boiled bamboo shoots, bone soup, and bamboo shoot leaves used as meat rolls.

Among them, the dish of bamboo shoots rolled with meat is not only elaborate because of the preparation of spices but also has another step, which is to boil the bamboo shoot leaves to soften. Although it takes a long time to prepare, every time there are distinguished guests or on holidays, bitter bamboo shoot rolls are an indispensable dish on the Tay people's dinner table.

The bitter taste of bamboo shoots mixed with the sweet taste of the filling made from meat, eggs, onions, wood ear mushrooms... makes diners enjoy it once and remember it forever.

Bamboo shoots rolled with meat. (Source: Lao Cai Provincial Department of Tourism)

When it comes to famous delicacies of the Northwest mountains and forests, bamboo shoots are definitely not to be missed. Enjoying a chopstick of bamboo shoots, you will easily feel the sweet taste, less fiber, and you can eat it forever without getting bored. The characteristic aroma of the mountains and forests spreads, making anyone remember it forever.

Stir-fried bamboo shoots, grilled bamboo shoots, bamboo shoots stewed with duck, bamboo shoots stewed with ribs... and countless other delicious dishes are all made from bamboo shoots.

However, for the people of Ta Van commune, Sa Pa town, the most delicious dish made from bamboo shoots is probably bamboo shoots grilled on a charcoal stove.

As soon as they are placed on the charcoal stove, the bamboo shoots give off an irresistible aroma and deliciousness. When the bamboo shoots are just grilled, people often peel off the hot bamboo shoot skin to enjoy immediately.

"With a little bit of fermented rice, ginger salt or a little bit of wild pepper, the flavor of the Northwest mountains and forests will just rush straight to your nose, unmistakable," said tour guide Hoang Anh Minh.

Unlike bamboo shoots, cardamom sprouts or galangal bamboo shoots are young shoots of cardamom and galangal plants - special spices of the Northwest highlands. The warm aroma of cardamom not only stimulates the taste buds but also brings many health benefits.

In particular, cardamom sprouts - the quintessence of cardamom fruit - are scientifically proven to contain many valuable nutrients.

Cardamom sprouts and galangal bamboo shoots are used by ethnic people in Lao Cai to stir-fry meat, stir-fry eggs, and braise fish.

With galangal bamboo shoots, the Giay Lao Cai people have many recipes for cooking dishes, but because of their chewy texture, light sweetness and delicious aroma, galangal bamboo shoots are most often used in mixed vegetables or salads.

In addition to mixed vegetable dishes, we cannot fail to mention the most attractive "version" of galangal bamboo shoots, which is salad with papaya flowers and pig ears.

With papaya flowers, take only the flower part, wash it and put it in a pot to boil for about 7-10 minutes, making sure the ingredients are soft enough, not mushy but not too tough.

Pig ears must also be boiled and then thinly sliced ​​to quickly absorb the spices. Next, you need to prepare other accompanying ingredients such as lemon or kumquat juice, a few cloves of garlic, lemongrass and galangal bamboo shoots.

All of these ingredients blend together to create a rich and unique flavor, making the dish both strange and delicious, and most especially, according to the concept of ethnic people in Lao Cai, this dish also prevents many diseases and is very good for human health.

Not only the main dish, bamboo shoots or cardamom sprouts also become famous side dishes of Lao Cai people when soaked with garlic and chili. It seems that the sour-spicy-salty-sweet-crispy flavors blend together to make people more passionate and unforgettable.

So, when each tourist leaves Lao Cai, they still remember the "side" dish that is not "side" to this land at all.

Delicious dishes from "forest shoots" in the Northwest region of Lao Cai not only show the unique quintessence in the culinary culture of ethnic minorities with high nutritional value but also bring significant economic benefits, even becoming a tree to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty in many localities.

Typically, bamboo shoots, when identified as one of the crops with high economic value, Van Ban district planned and supported people to develop bamboo shoot material areas in the direction of goods with the goal of having 1,000 hectares of bamboo shoots by 2030.

Or cardamom trees are being controlled by people and authorities in Lao Cai to have a stable area, ensuring ethnic minorities have additional income, while at the same time sustainably developing the forestry industry./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/lao-cai-nhung-mon-an-tu-dac-san-choi-rung-vung-tay-bac-hap-dan-thuc-khach-post1034785.vnp