Ms Vy's tips & secrets of Vietnamese cuisine
Regional
differences? Vietnamese cuisine is less spicy north of Hue, more spicy in the central provinces
& sweeter in the south.
Very little dairy so how do they get calcium?
The traditional Vietnamese diet did not include dairy, so they got their calcium
from green leafy vegetables, seafood, deep fried crunchy shrimp & crab shells,
some nuts, seeds & seaweed.
What about red meat?
Red meat is a delicacy. The
size of a wedding is defined by saying: "Two pigs & a cow"
Dining customs in Vietnam
When dining the Vietnamese always sit in a circle (usually on the floor)
so everyone gets fair access to the shared dishes in the middle.
The eldest man at any sitting is handed chop sticks & bowl first as a mark of respect. While we say 'Dig in!', the Vietnamese speak volumes in their silence. The sound of chewing is the way to show thanks in Vietnam. When it comes to drinking - get ready to keep up with a fast pace of "Mot Hai Ba YO!"
Medicinal
uses of Vietnamese herbs & spices
The mound of fresh green herbs that’s served with lunch and dinner is one of
the Vietnamese secrets to good health. These greens are served raw and are a
good source of vitamins, minerals and roughage. They require good chewing to
digest which aids digestion & gets digestive juices flowing. The herbs
create a balance to the meal, of texture and colour, as well as providing
essential nutrients. This traditional way of eating helps them to maintain
their health.
There are many popular herbs and here are some of
them along with their medicinal qualities:
Lemon basil is a digestive aid as well as making a great tea to
help heal a sore throat
Chinese Coriander helps to lower high blood pressure & needs to be
eaten first thing in the am
Mints help settle stomach upsets and aid digestion
Wild watercress helps create better circulation of the reproductive
area, relieves menstrual discomfort and reduces pre-menstrual tension and
helps heal uterine infections. It is called ‘fish herb’ in Vietnam as it
tastes like fish and even some Vietnamese don’t like it.
Garlic chives help reduce a cough but are more effective when they
are taken with fresh turmeric
It's the pure fibre, vitamins & calcium in the raw herbs that they eat twice
a day & the lack of
processed food that keeps diseases of the colon & respiratory diseases
like asthma out of the Vietnamese population.
More interesting secrets & tips...
· Mulberry is said to help maintain a healthy pregnancy and is considered beneficial to give an easy childbirth
· Royal Jelly is said to help maintain good health in women and also help them maintain their beauty and vitality.
· Fresh turmeric root (related to ginger and galangal) is important to the Vietnamese as a spice in their cooking, as a natural beauty treatment for women and for healing. It is an excellent source of vitamin A. A small piece is broken off and the raw end rubbed on blemishes to help dry them out and heal them quickly. It is considered good for the liver and to help recovery from hepatitis. Fresh turmeric root crushed and mixed with honey is said to help heal ulcers if taken before lunch for 7 days in a row.
· Garlic, shallots, onions, ginger, lemongrass, green onion (American scallions), fresh chillies and black pepper are all important seasonings in Vietnamese cuisine.
· Fish sauce: When you buy fish sauce, it should be amber coloured & clear. Check that there's no sediment at the bottom of the bottle.
· Peanut Oil is used most often for frying, the flavour is light. It contains 'good' cholesterol & is much lighter than canola & vegetable oil. To check that the peanut oil is the right temperature for the fried spring rolls to go in - put the tip of a bamboo chop stick in the oil, if the bamboo makes little bubbles in the oil then it's ready for frying.