Wild fern is a type of wild vegetable that is quite commonly used as an ingredient in dishes in Northern Vietnam. It is abundant in several provinces and cities such as Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, and even in Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam , and Gia Lai.

They grow naturally in mountainous areas or near streams and brooks, under low forest canopies where humidity is high and sunlight is limited. This plant thrives in the wild, making it difficult to cultivate.

Hong Tham fern.jpg
Ferns are distributed in many northern provinces and cities, and also appear in central Vietnam, but are most common in Tuyen Quang . Photo: Hong Tham
At first glance, the fern-like vegetable looks quite similar to a regular fern, but it has a thicker stem, a wider canopy, a lush green color, and can be cooked. Photo: Dang Phuong Anh

Ms. Minh Huyen, the owner of a restaurant specializing in Northwest Vietnamese cuisine in Tuyen Quang City, said that although wild ferns are available year-round, locals only choose to harvest them during the rainy season. This is because the ferns are at their freshest and most vibrant during this time.

Wild ferns are usually harvested, gathered into bundles, and sold for 30,000-40,000 VND/kg, depending on the location.

After harvesting, water spinach is usually sun-dried until wilted. This method helps reduce the sliminess of the vegetable while maintaining its crispness and delicious taste during cooking.

"Water spinach wilts and bruises easily, so people don't store it; they harvest it as needed. This vegetable can be eaten from the young plant stage, when the stem is bent like an elephant's trunk, until the leaves are mature, the leaf surface is still shiny, and less slimy than the trunk stem."

Interestingly, the more you harvest the fern shoots, the more they grow, producing many new stems. This vegetable is usually only harvested on rainy days; during hot, dry weather, the shoots age quickly, becoming tough and bitter," Ms. Huyen explained.

Ferns are a popular ingredient in many dishes in northern provinces of Vietnam. Source: May Kim Dao Do

According to Ms. Huyen, fern shoots can be transformed into many delicious and unique dishes such as stir-fried with garlic, dipped in hot pot, stir-fried with sour bamboo shoot sauce, stir-fried with papaya flowers, or stir-fried with fermented rice... but the most popular and favored dish is fern shoot salad.

The fern shoots are slightly slimy, so before cooking, they are usually blanched in boiling water or sun-dried until wilted.

To make a delicious salad, people choose the tender shoots and young leaves, then wash them thoroughly, blanch them briefly in boiling water, and drain them.

Next, prepare the salad ingredients such as lime, chili peppers, crushed roasted peanuts, fish sauce (or salt, seasoning powder), and sugar. The dressing should be sweet and sour, seasoned to taste.

Mix the wild greens with the dipping sauce, let it sit for about 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse, then sprinkle roasted peanuts on top and enjoy.

Le Trieu Duong's fern salad.jpg
Fern salad is a refreshing dish loved by many families in Northern Vietnam. Photo: Le Trieu Duong

Depending on the region and individual preferences, instead of mixing it with dipping sauce, people may stir-fry the fern shoots with a little pork fat or cooking oil, then season and mix well.

Fern salad has a sour, sweet, and spicy taste, with a distinctive aroma of the vegetable. When eaten, diners will experience a crisp texture and a refreshing, unique flavor.

Stir-fried fern shoots with garlic in My Loc.jpg
One thing to note when preparing water spinach is that it shouldn't be cooked for too long, as this will cause the dish to lose its beautiful green color and become slimy and have an unpleasant, pungent taste. Photo: My Loc

According to herbalist Bui Dac Sang, of the Hanoi Traditional Medicine Association, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, in many provinces, water spinach is considered the "king of vegetables". This vegetable grows naturally, so it is free from pesticides and growth hormones.

Besides being a delicious ingredient, water spinach is also considered a "miracle cure" offering many health benefits.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, water spinach is considered to have cooling properties, promote urination, prevent constipation, and reduce dull aches caused by colon problems.

Regular consumption of this vegetable also helps promote easier and deeper sleep, supports blood circulation, detoxifies the body, and cools the body during hot weather. The mucilage in the leaves of the fern also has a laxative effect and soothes back pain.

Despite its ugly and bizarre appearance that makes many diners hesitant, the mudskipper is a unique delicacy in Ca Mau, prepared into many delicious dishes that not everyone has the opportunity to taste.