A vegetable that was once eaten by few people has now become a specialty, sought after in all three regions.

This vegetable was previously eaten by few people, but has gradually become popular and is sought after by diners in big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, etc., considered a "heaven-sent" specialty, healthy, clean, delicious, and can be used to make many attractive dishes.

Similar to familiar wild vegetables from the South to the North such as crab claws, ground gourds, etc., water spinach is now known and loved by many people. This vegetable is considered a “heaven-sent” specialty thanks to its fresh and delicious flavor, and can be used to prepare a variety of different dishes.

Watercress is found in high mountains, deep forests or along streams from South to North, most commonly in the Northwest region (provinces such as Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai) and the Central Highlands ( Dak Lak , Gia Lai).

In addition to harvesting from the wild, in recent years, water spinach has been widely propagated and grown in many places. Lam Dong is the locality with many households growing this vegetable on a large scale, following the greenhouse model.

Watercress is a herbaceous plant that grows naturally or is cultivated in many provinces and cities, especially in Lam Dong. The stem, shoots and young leaves are used as food. Photo: Minh Nguyen Huy

Mr. Nguyen Cuong - owner of a garden of water spinach in Tan Ha commune, Lam Ha, Lam Dong province (former Lam Ha district, Lam Dong province) said that in the past, there were many wild water spinach plants growing but no one picked them to sell, and some even had to be pulled out so as not to affect the crops.

But in recent years, this vegetable has become more known to diners, so locals often pick or grow it and sell it, increasing its use as a green, clean, healthy vegetable.

According to his experience, water mimosa is a wild vegetable so it has the ability to grow strongly and easily adapt to local climate conditions.

This vegetable is also easy to grow, just need enough moisture to grow well.

“Water spinach is hardy and has few pests, so it doesn’t require much care or spraying. I just need to pay attention to providing enough water and the vegetable will grow very well,” he said.

From a wild vegetable that was once uprooted by people because it took up space for growing crops, water spinach has now "upgraded" to become a specialty, attracting gourmets. Photo: LA Green

The garden owner also revealed that water spinach can be harvested after about 2-3 months of planting, so it can be picked and eaten all year round.

Vegetables are grown naturally and are good for the stomach, so many people love them.

Not only supplying to local restaurants and eateries, he also packages and transports water spinach to several provinces in the country such as Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, etc., to meet the diverse enjoyment needs of diners.

Stir-fried water mimosa with garlic. The vegetables do not need to be blanched before stir-frying but still retain their delicious crispness and beautiful green color. Photo: May Chicken Hotpot

The selling price on the spot is about 60,000 - 80,000 VND/kg. However, to keep the quality of the vegetables as fresh as when they were first picked, and to avoid them being crushed, wilted or dehydrated, people often transport vegetables to distant provinces by air.

Therefore, water spinach is sold at a higher price, about 100,000 - 120,000 VND/kg when delivered to big cities.

Watercress dipped in chicken hotpot is a delicious dish loved by diners when traveling to Lam Dong. Photo: May Chicken Hotpot

Ms. Thanh Mai (Hanoi) who enjoyed dishes made from water spinach in Da Lat (Lam Dong) commented that this vegetable has a slightly sour taste, sweet aftertaste, cool and crunchy.

Although she has tried many different types of wild vegetables, she finds that water spinach has its own unique, strange, and attractive flavor.

Because she loves the taste of water spinach, sometimes Ms. Mai orders this vegetable from a garden in Lam Dong and sends it to Hanoi to treat and change the meal for the whole family.

Water spinach should only be cooked or dipped in hot pot until just done to keep the vegetables crispy and sweet. Avoid overcooking as this will make the vegetables tough and unappetizing. Photo: May Chicken Hot Pot

“The water spinach can be eaten raw as a salad, mixed in salads or processed into cooked dishes such as boiled, stir-fried with garlic, dipped in hot pot, or cooked in soup. People even turn this vegetable into an ingredient for some snacks such as banh xeo, goi cuon…”, she said.

According to folk experience, water spinach is not only a delicious dish but also considered a "natural medicine".

They are used in some traditional medicine to treat sore throat, chronic bronchitis, rheumatism, bone and joint pain, painful swelling and trauma...

Not everyone dares to try this Bac Ninh specialty, Hanoi customers order 60km delivery home. Although it does not need to be cooked with heat, thanks to the elaborate preparation process and some ingredients and spices, this dish has become a famous Bac Ninh specialty, attracting gourmets to enjoy.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/loai-rau-tung-it-nguoi-an-nay-len-doi-thanh-dac-san-duoc-san-don-khap-3-mien-2446536.html