Taste of Homeland: Cu Lao Cham Abalone Porridge

The Five Elements Principle and Modern Nutrition

According to Dr. Nguyen Hoai Trung ( Da Nang Traditional Medicine Hospital), Cu Lao Cham abalone porridge is the quintessence of many ingredients beneficial to health. Of which, abalone, a precious seafood of Quang Nam sea, is considered the main nutritious ingredient. Citing the Journal of Food Science (2018), Dr. Trung said that 100 grams of abalone contains up to 17 grams of protein, 105 mg of omega-3, along with a significant amount of zinc and selenium, important micronutrients in strengthening immunity, improving reproductive function and supporting cardiovascular activity.

Brown rice abalone porridge

PHOTO: AN DY

In particular, the glycosaminoglycan compound found in abalone helps improve blood circulation, supports male physiology and contributes to hormonal balance, according to research published in the journal Marine Drugs (2019). Abalone also has antioxidant effects, reduces inflammation, inhibits cancer cells and improves body endurance.

According to oriental medicine, abalone has the effect of calming the liver and nourishing the kidneys, improving eyesight; used to treat headaches and dizziness due to high blood pressure, helping to increase vitality, improve eyesight...

The second quintessential ingredient in the porridge is Dien Ban red rice, a native rice rich in fiber and B vitamins (B1, B6), antioxidants... Brown rice not only aids digestion and stabilizes blood sugar, but also helps improve energy metabolism in the body. Spices such as ginger, black pepper, wild chili, and green onions are all traditional culinary herbs that help balance yin and yang, warm the spleen and stomach, fight inflammation, prevent colds, and enhance digestion.

The special thing about porridge is the combination according to the principle of five flavors (salty, bitter, spicy, sour, sweet), five colors (green, red, yellow, white, black), five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) in traditional medicine, including brown rice, white rice, green onions, pepper, ginger, chili, abalone... This combination not only creates a dish with harmonious flavors but also helps regulate blood and increase resistance.

Gastronomy Therapy

According to the people of Cu Lao Cham, abalone was a precious and rare product used to pay tribute to the king. Thanks to marine ecological conservation activities, especially since Cu Lao Cham was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in 2009, abalone is nurtured and developed in a natural reef environment, and when exploited and processed, it still retains its purity and optimal nutritional value.

For the locals, abalone porridge is not simply a dish, but also a traditional cultural symbol. In recent years, at some rehabilitation and traditional medicine health care facilities in Da Nang, this porridge has been integrated as part of the health care regimen. When combined with methods such as acupressure massage and herbal steaming, abalone porridge becomes a functional nutritional therapy, supporting patients to recover their physical strength.

Dr. Nguyen Hoai Trung commented: "Integrating this dish into health care clearly demonstrates the growing role of local nutrition in preventive and restorative medicine. This is evidence of the trend of personalizing diets, a trend that is receiving deep attention from modern medicine."

Cu Lao Cham abalone porridge is a harmonious blend of nature, cuisine and medicine. With clean ingredients from the sea, processing methods based on Eastern medicine principles, and support from modern research projects, this dish is not only a local specialty but also a fulcrum for culinary therapy and health tourism models in Vietnam.

"A small bowl of porridge carries the quintessence of the sea, the wisdom of the ancients, and today's modern scientific perspective," said Dr. Trung.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/huong-vi-que-huong-chao-bao-ngu-cu-lao-cham-185250512172909582.htm