Lotus Stem Salad (Vietnamese)

-

This is one of the dishes we cooked up at the Saigon Culinary Art Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Lotus stem is tasteless, aroma-less but super crunchy; perfect for salad. Since this recipe called for pork and shrimps, I omitted these two. In the following recipe, I shall include pork and shrimp for your perusal.

Marinade
1 T lemon juice
2 T sugar
2 T white vinegar
2 T fish sauce (patis or nuoc mam cham)
A pinch of salt and pepper

180g Lotus stem (cucumber, carrots, green papaya, cabbage or turnip may be used) 
100 g pork tenderloin
100 g shrimp
10g celery
20 g carrots

Garnishing
1 big chili
1 chili flower
5g knot weed (may use sweet basil)
5-7 g mint leaves
1/2 T fried peanuts
1/2 T fried shallots (may use onions)

Preparation
MARINADE: Mix all marinade ingredients except fish sauce, stirring until the sugar and salt dissolve completely.
VEGETABLES: Cut in julienne the lotus stem, carrot and big chili. Cut celery in 1-2 cm length.
PORK: Prepare pork by boiling it over medium heat for 8 minutes. Remove from heat and soak in cool water until cool enough to slice thinly.
SHRIMPS: Boil the shrimps in water and vinegar over medium heat. Remove from heat and soak in cool water then shell them.

How To
Marinate boiled shrimp and pork in 2 T marinade for at least 20 minutes.
Marinate lotus stem with the rest of the vegetables using the remaining marinade sauce. Toss and add the shrimp and pork as well as the fish sauce. Toss well again.
Serve in a plate and garnish with all garnishings.
Best served with fish sauce on the side.

Tomato flowerette for the plating
Lotus stem, up close and personal

My cooking partner Anna Wang, with the Vietnamese Chef who looks like Pacquiao.

Photos were taken while we were marinating the meat and the veges.

Anna Wang was listening very well.

The condiments...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you still remember how Sarali or Sirali taste?

-
Image
This "Sarali" is a childhood fruit for everyone who grew up in the Visayan area of the Philippines. Also known as  Flacourtia jangomas or Indian Plum or coffee plum, Sarali is best enjoyed by pressing one fruit between one's palm, move it in circular motion until tender, and pop the soft flesh quickly in one's mouth save the seeds. Just like apple, this fruit oxidizes quickly and thus, gets dark brown easily. It can give one's teeth a nasty brown shade. Sour with a hint of sweet, this is a must-try fruit. I believe, the fruit has an economic value just like sarguellas and lanzones. *** *** *** ***  Related readings:  Possible Treatment of Diabetes http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2959214/ Anti bacterial property:  http://www.ijplsjournal.com/issues%20PDF%20files/july2011/1.pdf
Read more

TIKUM KADLUM (The Enchanted Dog, The First of the Ten Epics of Panay Bukidnon)

-
Image
At the house. One day, Bulawanon engaged the help of Tikum Kadlum, a hunting dog with the gift of sensing the spirits, in cooking rice for his husband Paiburong and his brother Dumaraog who will be going hunting. When the rice was cooked, the brothers ate fast. Then, while Bulawanon packed the betel nut for her husband, Paiburong and Dumaraog dressed themselves, with Dumaraog suggesting they match their sashes and belts, since he is his brother's loyal protector. To complete their hunting preparations, the two brought out their long-bladed sharp knives, shields, spears, and lances from their gold chest and wall hanger. When everything is set, Paiburong bade goodbye to his wife, Bulawanon, who reminded her husband to be careful as he might meet in the forest one named Makabagting, who is accompanied by a man-eating woman called Muwa. Makabagting is a nobleman and a warrior who is widely known as having tasted human flesh. Paiburong went out of his house, and he heard a sound. It
Read more

The Legend of Isla Gigantes in Carles, Iloilo*

-
Image
The Legend of Isla Gigantes in Carles, Iloilo* In a place called Punta Bulakawe in the town of Carles, there was a childless couple who endlessly asked for a child. They were blessed with a son who grew up too fast. Too fast he grew that he can no longer enter thier house when he was one and all men were only as tall as his knees. The giant child grew up and spent his adolescence in a mountain known as the Beheya Hill. Everytime this giant walked, the surroundings shook. Each of his step meant earthquake for everyone. This made everyone fear him. Because of his steps, he was called Higante Tay-og -- literally means Giant Quake. Higante Tay-og decided to remain in Beheya Hill which he could access by two or three steps only. To entertain himself, he learned to smoke cigars. Each time he exhale smoke from his cigar, the surroundings dim. When he accidentally inhaled the smoke, he coughed; the folks feared it like thunder that shook the surro
Read more