A nutritious rustic tuber that used to fight hunger, now becomes a fragrant specialty sold all over the city.

Cassava - A nutritious rustic tuber

With its simple, rustic appearance, no one would think that this tuber that was once forgotten by humans, only used as animal feed, and was "as cheap as free", now makes people yearn for it every winter. Cassava is easy to eat, easy to prepare and also contains a lot of nutrients.

In the past, when food was not abundant, rice mixed with cassava was often a familiar dish in family meals. Therefore, cassava mixed with rice or cassava cake is the childhood dish of many people.

However, over time, cassava has not only stopped being a necessary food but also become a popular specialty, especially when winter comes. Cassava is used to make dishes such as cassava sweet soup, grilled cassava, cassava cake or cassava steamed with delicious coconut milk. They create a special, warm flavor that melts people's hearts on cold days.

Cassava used to be for "poor families in difficult times" but now becomes a delicious specialty every winter. (Illustration photo)

This rustic tuber seems to have been forgotten because nowadays there are too many delicious and expensive dishes. However, it seems that cassava is still a symbol in traditional Vietnamese cuisine , from a common food to an indispensable part, a snack that warms the stomachs of many people every winter.

In the past, almost every household grew cassava. This is a drought-resistant plant with few pests and diseases, and a high yield. Cassava can be used as a rice filler in difficult times or to make cakes, making you feel full for a long time, not only because it is high in fiber but also because it contains many other nutrients.

Cassava dessert is a favorite of many people in winter. (Illustration photo)

According to research, cassava contains a lot of fiber and flavonoids that can aid digestion, reducing the risk of diseases related to metabolic disorders. Cassava also contains a lot of vitamin C, which helps the body heal wounds quickly and whitens the skin. Not only that, the large amount of potassium in cassava can help prevent high blood pressure.

Many women in winter like to eat dishes made from cassava because it is rich but not fatty. Moreover, cassava contains a lot of starch, which is similar to soluble fiber, which has the effect of reducing inflammation, improving metabolism and especially effective weight loss. The source of fiber in cassava is abundant, so eating cassava helps you feel full longer and reduces the feeling of snacking. Thereby, limiting the accumulation of excess fat and significantly reducing the amount of fat absorbed by the body.

Some delicious dishes from cassava

Cassava can be processed into many delicious dishes in winter, but some dishes that are worth mentioning are steamed cassava with coconut milk, cassava cake or cassava sweet soup. With skillful hands and flexible creativity, from this rustic tuber, many delicious dishes have spread throughout the streets, some places even have cassava cake specialties like Phu Tho .

Phu Tho cassava cake specialty is loved by many people. (Illustration photo)

In the cold season, the dishes that women love are steamed cassava with coconut milk or going to the city on a winter afternoon to eat a bowl of hot cassava dessert.

Steamed cassava is added with coconut milk or pandan leaves to create a beautiful color, not to mention sprinkled with shredded coconut on top to increase the richness and fat of the cassava. The rich and chewy cassava flavor blends together, the cassava pieces are naturally sweet and light, very "into" to eat.

Steamed cassava with coconut milk is delicious and easy to eat. (Illustration)

Not only that, coming to the rich West, people have a unique and attractive cassava cake with many colors that many people love. The cake has a sweet, chewy taste, mixed with the fatty taste of coconut, adding a little crushed peanuts to make it very rich. Cassava cake is usually long and slender like a silkworm, but can also be created into many other shapes such as square, small rectangle, ... depending on the preferences of the maker. This cassava cake has many diverse colors, from pink, red, green, yellow, white, brown, ... all made from natural colors from vegetables that are very safe for health.

Cassava cake is a special dish of the people of the West. (Illustration photo)

In addition, creative dishes such as grilled cassava sprinkled with cheese or herbs are also tried by many people and bring attractive flavors.

Grilled cassava is also one of the delicious dishes made from cassava. (Illustration photo)

Some notes when eating cassava

Firstly, cassava is delicious and contains many benefits for the body, but it also contains some substances that reduce the absorption of nutrients such as saponin, tannin, phytate. Of course, eating too much cassava and eating it regularly will reduce the absorption of nutrients in the body.

Second, eating too much cassava, improperly processing it or eating raw cassava can lead to cassava "intoxication" or cassava poisoning. Because cassava contains cyanogenic glycoside - this substance has the ability to release cyanide in the body. More seriously, they can cause damage and paralysis of organs in the body if poisoned. Therefore, people with poor digestion, malnutrition, and physical weakness should eat cassava in moderation. In addition, there are also people who are allergic to cassava. Therefore, when eating cassava, you should eat a small amount first, if there is no reaction, you can continue eating.

Cassava tubers need to have their skin completely removed before further processing. (Illustration)

Third, cassava should be properly stored and processed before eating. Cassava should be kept in a cool place, away from direct sunlight. It is important to peel the cassava. The cassava skin contains many compounds that can produce cyanide, so the cassava skin must be completely removed. Then, soak the cassava in water for at least a few hours, or a few days to remove some of the toxins.

Because raw cassava contains many toxic substances, it needs to be cooked thoroughly by boiling, steaming or baking. When eating cassava, it should be combined with other foods containing a lot of protein because this can ensure health and protein helps eliminate cyanide toxins.

Fourth, two groups of people need to be careful when eating cassava: pregnant women and children. Pregnant women should absolutely not eat raw cassava. When eating cooked cassava, they should only eat it in limited quantities and consult a doctor before eating. As for children, their digestive systems are still immature, so eating cassava can cause indigestion, affecting the child's absorption of nutrients.

Source: https://danviet.vn/cu-san-loai-cu-dan-da-nhieu-dinh-duong-xua-chong-doi-nay-thanh-dac-san-thom-nuc-ban-khap-pho-20240226063601115.htm