Delicious bitter gourd with chicken gizzard

(GLO) - Bitter gourd wrapped in banana leaves and grilled over hot charcoal is a rustic and familiar dish of the ethnic minority people in western Gia Lai.

Photo: Lac Ha

To achieve the full flavor of the bitter eggplant and chicken offal dish, the selection of eggplant plays a crucial role.

According to the Jrai people's experience, the best eggplants are those that are still young, elongated, with a glossy green skin, and feel firm to the touch.

Eggplant that is too young will be bland, while old eggplant will be tough and intensely bitter, overpowering the natural sweetness of the chicken gizzards. The bitter eggplants are washed, chopped, and soaked in salt water to remove the sap and preserve their color. After cleaning, the chicken gizzards are drained.

The two main ingredients are then mixed thoroughly with traditional spices such as salt, chili peppers, lemongrass, shallots, and a little MSG for flavor. A little water is added to the mixture to create steam during grilling, then it is wrapped in banana leaves that have been softened over a fire, and tightly tied with dried banana fiber or soft string.

The bundle of banana leaves is placed over hot charcoal, turned frequently to ensure the ingredients inside are thoroughly cooked and infused with flavor. When grilled, the aroma of the banana leaves blends with the sweet taste of the chicken gizzards, the distinctive bitterness of the tomatoes, the pungent spiciness of the chili peppers, and the fragrant scent of lemongrass and onions, creating a harmonious and rich flavor.

Jrai people often enjoy bitter gourd with chicken offal (pictured) with hot rice or as a snack during family and friends gatherings.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/hap-dan-mon-ca-dang-long-ga-post575393.html