Buzz
Jungle leaf hotpot, bitter melon soup, and grilled bamboo shoots stir-fried with beef are commonly served by the E De people to entertain their distant guests.
Three Delectable E De Dishes
Bitter Melon Soup
Bitter melon is a type of fruit that often grows wild in the fields. The plant has thorns, and the fruit grows all year round, tasting bitter like bitter gourd but smaller in size. Almost every E De household has this type of plant. They use bitter melon extensively in their family meals, including a soup cooked with mudfish.
The E De people often use the heads of mudfish, dried in the sun for their rich oil content, to add fragrance to the dish, rather than the body. After grinding the fish heads, they add spring onions or garlic for aroma. Then, they pour water in and wait for it to boil before adding the sliced bitter melon.
The E De people don't use starch to thicken their dishes; instead, they use rice water after rinsing. Since they're accustomed to eating loose dishes, bitter melon soup thickens when mixed with rice, making it easier to scoop up with hands.
Currently living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, H’Liang Bkrong (25 years old, E De ethnicity) stated: “For the E De people, the bitter and spicy taste of bitter melon enhances the flavor of the dish. Moreover, people in the village also believe that this type of fruit helps boost immunity and fight diseases.”
This traditional dish is now widely available in restaurants and eateries, priced at around 60,000 – 80,000 VND per bowl. In addition to mudfish, bitter melon soup can also be made with steamed fish, dried shrimp, snails, dried fish, etc.
Jungle Leaf Hotpot
This is one of the famous specialties that the E De people use to entertain their guests. This dish is like a pot of mixed soup with various jungle leaves, once a meal to fend off hunger for mountain people in difficult times.
After trying it, you'll experience a slightly sweet taste from the various spices and intense spiciness, along with a hint of bitterness from the leafy greens.
The E De people gather various types of leaves deep in the forest. The more types of leaves, the better the flavor. Jungle hotpot is usually served with steamed wild boar meat.
This dish is found in most menus at eateries and restaurants in Dak Lak City. However, for the authentic taste, you can seek out and visit local families.
Grilled Bamboo Shoots Stir-fried with Beef
If you've tried boiled bamboo shoots, stir-fried bamboo shoots, sour bamboo shoots, or dried bamboo shoots, then grilled bamboo shoots should not be missed. Grilled bamboo shoots are cooked together with beef tripe. This dish is famous in Ea Sol commune, Ea Hleo district (Dak Lak province).
The E De people enjoy grilled bamboo shoots for breakfast or dinner. It's a harmonious blend of the slightly bitter taste of beef tripe, the sweetness of wild bamboo shoots, and the essential spiciness of chili, a spice commonly used in E De cuisine.
The fragrant aroma of beef tripe, grilled bamboo shoots, and spices combined with the heat from chili will leave travelers unforgettable memories of this land.
According to Di Vy/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel Guide Mytour
MytourFebruary 6, 2018
