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Discover the 12 most popular vegetables for hot pot enthusiasts. Hot pot is a beloved dish enjoyed by many and widely popular across various regions. Each hot pot dish boasts rich, flavorful aromas that tantalize the taste buds of those who indulge in these hot pot delicacies. Hot pot dishes are prepared in diverse ways with various ingredients, creating a plethora of flavors and gaining recognition among many, such as seafood hot pot, beef hot pot, assorted hot pot, Thai hot pot... these hot pot dishes are often accompanied by a wide variety of vegetables. The assortment of vegetables paired with hot pot is diverse and extensive. To provide insight into the top 12 delicious vegetables commonly used for hot pot, let's take a look. Here are the top 12 most popular vegetables for hot pot.
Watercress
Watercress offers a sweet, refreshing taste and is highly popular in Vietnam, primarily cultivated during the winter season. The nutrients found in watercress are beneficial for digestion, providing ample fiber for the body. The fragrant aroma of watercress pairs well with beef or is enjoyed in Thai hot pots. If you're not fond of consuming the leaves of watercress, you can simply discard them and consume the stems. However, it's important to consider that the majority of the nutrients in watercress reside in the leaves. Additionally, watercress stems are tender, so they require minimal cooking time when dipped in hot pot, ensuring a seamless dining experience without interruptions.
Banana Blossoms
Wondering which Thai hot pot vegetable is the best? Banana blossoms, also known simply as banana flowers, are often shredded finely for raw consumption. With their crisp texture and refreshing sweet taste, banana blossoms complement the spicy and sour flavors of Thai hot pot perfectly. In addition to balancing the flavors in the Thai hot pot, banana blossoms offer significant health benefits to the consumer. This vegetable can aid in treating digestive disorders, stomach pains, and reduce acidity. When it comes to vegetables for Thai hot pot, it's not necessary to stick to leafy greens to ensure freshness and taste. You can either purchase pre-shredded banana blossoms or prepare them yourself. However, if you choose to prepare them yourself, it's advisable to soak them immediately in a vinegar solution to prevent discoloration.
Various Mushrooms
Among the essential vegetables for Thai hot pot, a variety of fresh and fragrant mushrooms are indispensable as they naturally enhance the sweetness of the broth. Regardless of the accompanying vegetables for Thai hot pot, mushrooms should never be overlooked. However, these are highly perishable items post-harvest, so when selecting, it's crucial to examine their freshness to ensure both health and flavor benefits for the hot pot. Popular choices of mushrooms known to enhance the broth's sweetness in Thai hot pot include shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, and oyster mushrooms. Mushrooms cook quickly and maintain a certain level of crispness, avoiding becoming mushy if promptly removed from the hot pot. Furthermore, mushrooms are devoid of fats, rich in vitamins, and minerals, aiding in weight management and cognitive improvement. Ladies indulging in mushrooms alongside Thai hot pot need not worry about gaining weight.
Perilla Leaves
Perilla leaves are a type of aromatic herb known for their distinctive fragrance, commonly used in treating colds and preparing healthy dishes. If you've been suffering from persistent cold symptoms, adding perilla leaves to your Thai hot pot can help alleviate your symptoms. The spiciness of the Thai hot pot combined with the aroma of perilla leaves will also make you sweat and feel surprisingly refreshed.
Water Spinach
Water spinach is an essential vegetable when it comes to Thai hot pot. Consuming water spinach helps reduce cholesterol levels, boosts immunity, and offers numerous other health benefits. When eating water spinach in Thai hot pot, you can remove some leaves for a crisper texture or slice them thinly to absorb the flavors of the hot pot more quickly. However, water spinach in winter may not be as tasty as in summer, so if you're having hot pot in winter, you may want to consider choosing other types of vegetables.
Water Lily
Water lilies thrive underwater, with long stems and clusters of leaves. Most people are familiar with water lilies for their beautifying effects on landscapes due to their vibrant colors, but they are lesser-known for their other benefits. Water lilies not only taste delicious but also have a cooling effect on the body. If you're worried about the spiciness of Thai hot pot, try pairing it with this special vegetable. When eating water lilies, simply remove the peel, break them into pieces, and dip them in the hot pot—they cook quickly.
Chinese Cabbage
Chinese cabbage has a relatively mild taste compared to other vegetables, making it ideal for maintaining the spicy and sour flavors of Thai hot pot. Chinese cabbage is known for its effective cancer-fighting properties and its ability to break down fats. Moreover, it has a lesser-known ability to sober up and sharpen the mind. Quite impressive, isn't it? If you're having hot pot at a party or gathering where alcohol is involved, make sure to indulge in plenty of Chinese cabbage.
Morning Glory
Morning glory is rich in vitamin C, with a subtle sour taste and a cooling effect. This vegetable is particularly suitable for consumption during hot weather or alongside spicy dishes like hot pot. Therefore, pairing it with Thai hot pot along with various fresh and protein-rich seafood is highly recommended. When dipping it into the hot pot, opt for the tender stems of morning glory for the best flavor.
Chinese Mustard Greens
Chinese mustard greens are a key ingredient in stir-fries, adding a unique flavor to the dish, making them perfect to accompany the seafood flavors of Thai hot pot. Chinese mustard greens are warming in nature and can aid digestion due to their high fiber content. Additionally, they are known to prevent skin aging and promote rosy skin tones due to the essential folic acid they contain.
Bitter Melon
While not everyone enjoys bitter melon, it adds richness to your Thai hot pot. Bitter melon has cooling properties and tastes delicious whether eaten raw or cooked. Using bitter melon as an appetizer stimulates the taste buds excellently. It's truly a fitting vegetable for Thai hot pot.
Chinese Kale
If you're unsure which vegetable pairs well with Thai hot pot, choose Chinese kale. Chinese kale, a leafy green vegetable, aids digestion, ensuring you don't feel overly full while enjoying Thai hot pot. It has a refreshing taste and contains alkaline substances that help combat liver fat and boost immunity. It's a vegetable often recommended to be lightly cooked. However, to preserve the vitamin C content in the vegetable, avoid overcooking it when dipping it into the hot pot.
Chinese Spinach
Chinese spinach serves as an appetizer, aids digestion, and is especially beneficial for women. It contains compounds that help prevent cervical and breast cancer. With these positive effects alone, this vegetable becomes a popular choice on the hot pot table. Choosing vegetables for Thai hot pot couldn't be easier!
Posted by: Ngô Phương
Keywords: Top 12 Delicious Vegetables for Popular Hot Pot Consumption
