The fragrant scent of wild banana blossoms

Banana blossoms and smoked pork are also used to make banana blossom salad. Photo: ZƠRÂM THỊ TÝ

Anyone who has lived in the highlands has probably experienced at least once the dish of boiled wild banana blossoms mixed with smoked pork.

In a cozy setting, the rich, creamy flavor of wild banana blossom blends perfectly with the tender, sweet meat. Not to mention, the subtle aroma of wild pepper and roasted leaves leaves a captivating and memorable experience for anyone who tries it.

I moved to the city with my husband, but the taste of the mountains is always present in our family's kitchen. From wild vegetables and upland rice to various spices, our city meals have the flavor of the mountains.

In the past, people in mountainous areas often stored spices (especially wild pepper) in dried bamboo tubes, covered with banana leaves, and kept them in the attic above the kitchen. This method not only enhanced the aroma and crispness of the peppercorns due to the kitchen smoke, but also helped preserve them from spoilage and mold.

Rich and flavorful wild banana blossom salad with smoked pork. Photo: ZƠRÂM THỊ TÝ

When guests come to my house, I often treat them to traditional dishes from my hometown. Boiled banana blossom mixed with smoked pork is the most common dish I serve.

To make this specialty dish, the ingredients must be carefully selected. Besides choosing the finest smoked pork, the banana blossoms harvested from the forest must also be carefully preserved. The blossoms must be protected from bruising to retain their inherent sweetness and richness. And of course, the roasted leaves and finely ground wild peppercorns are indispensable. They add to the dish's rich flavor.

To ensure the bacon is tender, it should be steamed for about 3-5 minutes. After peeling off the outer layers of the banana blossom, removing the tough stem and any opened flower buds, cut the blossom into bite-sized pieces. After soaking the banana blossom in a mixture of lemon juice or diluted salt water, boil it. Once cooked, let it cool, then gently squeeze out the excess water to retain its characteristic nutty and sweet flavor.

The main ingredients for making traditional dishes in the days after Tet (Lunar New Year). Photo: ZƠRÂM THỊ TÝ

Once everything was ready, I mixed the banana blossom and shredded dried meat with the seasonings, then arranged it on a plate, enjoying the reunion with friends.

The sweetness of the smoked meat blends with the earthy flavor of the banana blossom and a hint of roasted wild pepper, creating an irresistible taste of mountain cuisine in the city.

Besides the above preparation methods, wild banana blossoms combined with smoked pork are also used to make appetizers such as banana blossom salad, zară (dried meat minced in bamboo tubes), etc.

All dishes are meticulously prepared, with a combination of mountain spices. For generations, mountain people, no matter where they are, whenever they mention dishes made from wild banana blossoms and smoked pork, they can't help but feel emotional, considering it a source of pride in their community's traditional culinary culture…

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