Braised Vegetables with Dried Lá Giang: A Healthy & Flavorful Recipe

Braised vegetables with lá giang is not only a delicious dish but also offers many health benefits. Using dried lá giang, this dish allows you to enjoy the sour and refreshing taste of lá giang, while also being easy to store and use year-round.

Ingredients Needed

To cook braised vegetables with lá giang, you will need the following ingredients:

• Dried Lá Giang Leaves: 50g
• Carrots: 2
• Daikon Radish: 1
• Shiitake Mushrooms: 100g
• Soft Tofu: 2 blocks
• Shallots: 2
• Garlic Cloves: 3
• Fish Sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Sugar: 1 tablespoon
• Cooking Oil: 2 tablespoons
• Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
• Black Pepper: 1/2 teaspoon

Dried Lá Giang leaves in a bowl

How to Cook Braised Vegetables with Lá Giang

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

• Soak dried lá giang leaves in warm water for about 15 minutes until soft, then rinse and drain.
• Peel, wash, and cut carrots and daikon radish into bite-sized pieces.
• Soak shiitake mushrooms in warm water for about 20 minutes, rinse, remove stems, and cut in half.
• Cut soft tofu into bite-sized squares.
• Peel and finely mince shallots and garlic.

Step 2: Cook the Braised Vegetables with Lá Giang

1. Heat cooking oil in a pot, then add minced shallots and garlic and sauté until fragrant.
2. Add carrots and daikon radish and stir-fry for about 5 minutes.
3. Add shiitake mushrooms and stir-fry for 3 minutes.
4. Pour enough water into the pot to cover the vegetables, then bring to a boil.
5. Once the water boils, add the dried lá giang leaves, then season with fish sauce, sugar, salt, and black pepper.
6. Simmer for about 20 minutes until the vegetables are tender and flavorful.
7. Finally, add the soft tofu, simmer for another 5 minutes, then turn off the heat.

Fresh Lá Giang leaves on a branch

Health Benefits of Lá Giang

Lá giang is not only a delicious cooking ingredient but also offers many health benefits. According to traditional Eastern medicine, lá giang has a sour taste and cooling properties, helping to cool down and detoxify the body. Lá giang is also used to treat conditions such as urinary tract infections, chronic kidney inflammation, enteritis, rheumatism, and swelling.

Tips for Storing and Using Dried Lá Giang Leaves

• Dried lá giang leaves should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
• A 50g packet of dried lá giang can be used to cook soup 10 to 12 times for a family, or for a hot pot serving 8 people.
• When using, you should soak dried lá giang leaves in warm water for about 15 minutes to soften them for easier preparation.

A bowl of sour soup with Lá Giang leaves

Conclusion

Braised vegetables with lá giang is a simple yet nutritious and flavorful dish. With the detailed guide above, you can easily prepare this dish at home, providing a delicious and healthy meal for the whole family. Try it now and experience the unique taste of dried lá giang!