Delicious and healthy dishes from our own garden.

VTV.vn - In the memories of many Vietnamese people, a home-cooked meal is not only about satiety but also about stories of family bonds and the flavors of the harvest associated with the garden in front of the house.

Enjoy delicious, healthy meals from your own garden.

In the memories of many Vietnamese people, a simple country meal is not just about satiety, but also about stories of family bonds and the flavors of the harvest associated with the front garden. Today, the pace of modern life makes it easy for people to forget that simplicity, and healthy dishes from the home garden become a soothing remedy for both body and soul.

Cuisine - from necessity to culture

Vietnamese cuisine is inherently diverse and rich in regional nuances. However, what makes it unique is the way Vietnamese people know how to utilize seasonal produce, transforming simple ingredients into dishes that are both delicious and nutritious. The current trend towards healthy eating is simply a refined continuation of that tradition: eating less oil and fat, more green vegetables, prioritizing fresh, natural foods, and maintaining a balanced diet.

Healthy culinary colors.

In the context of globalization, international diets such as eat clean, vegan, plant-based, and keto are becoming increasingly popular. However, looking back, many Vietnamese dishes made from ingredients grown in our own gardens already embody the spirit of macrobiotics: centella, banana blossoms, purslane, mangoes, turmeric, coconut water… are all common ingredients that our ancestors considered precious medicinal herbs in their daily lives.

Banana blossoms – a common ingredient that our ancestors considered a valuable medicine in their daily lives.

Stories from the home garden

One summer afternoon, my mother placed a plate of crispy fried banana blossoms on the table: young banana blossoms, finely chopped and soaked in lemon-salt water to maintain their white color, coated in a crunchy batter. The mild astringency and crisp texture were both delicious and beneficial for cardiovascular health, digestion, and stress reduction.

Crispy fried banana blossoms.

Next to it is a salad made with pennywort, a refreshing mix of greens and shredded carrots, garnished with fragrant fried onions. This simple salad contains a wealth of medicinal properties: it cools the body, detoxifies, improves blood circulation, beautifies the skin, and relieves stress.

Pennywort salad - a simple salad dish.

On hot, humid days, a plate of sour purslane salad with crunchy roasted peanuts makes for a delightful meal. Purslane is not only a food item but also a folk remedy for colds, fever, arthritis, and digestive problems.

Purslane salad is perfect for hot and humid days.

A simple country meal wouldn't be complete without vibrant colors. A salad of bright yellow mango and avocado, mixed with tomatoes, herbs, and honey, is not only delicious but also provides abundant vitamins and fiber, aiding digestion, beautifying the skin, and boosting immunity.

A salad of bright yellow mango and avocado.

The meal also includes pan-fried shrimp with mushrooms, sweet and firm, served with golden-brown rice fried with turmeric. The aroma of turmeric is subtly herbal, and the rice, combined with sprouts, fresh avocado, and pickled purple cabbage, creates a delicate balance. Turmeric – a familiar spice – has now been scientifically proven to be a "superfood" that fights inflammation, aids digestion, and boosts immunity.

Brown rice fried with turmeric, golden brown and crispy.

And when the meal concludes with a bowl of Hoi An-style coconut and avocado dessert, the delicate sweetness of the coconut flesh blends with the rich creaminess of the avocado, subtly infused with pandan leaf aroma… the taste buds are satisfied, and the heart feels light and relaxed.

Coconut and avocado dessert with a light, relaxing flavor.

What's valuable is that these dishes don't require luxurious ingredients. Everything comes from the home garden, according to the season, reflecting a lifestyle that appreciates the produce of the homeland. They nourish the body and are a healing balm for the spirit – perfectly aligning with the criteria of modern wellness tourism : returning to nature, to simplicity, to live slowly and healthily.

Everything comes from the home garden, according to the seasons, reflecting a lifestyle that appreciates the produce of the homeland.

Vietnamese cuisine is not only appealing in its flavors, but also tells the story of the land, the harvests, and the skillful hands of Vietnamese women. These dishes, simple yet extraordinary, are the thread that connects memories and culture, and simultaneously elevate Vietnamese cuisine to the world through its unique nutritional identity.

Source: https://vtv.vn/thu-vi-mon-an-thuc-duong-tu-vuon-nha-100251016152334873.htm