Vietnamese Water Lily Stem Salad: Simple Recipes, Rich Flavor

Water Lily Stem Salad is a rustic dish, easy to prepare yet offering a special, appealing flavor. With simple methods, you can easily make this mixed water lily stem salad at home to treat your family. Let’s explore these water lily stem salad recipes to enrich your menu.

Water Lily Stem Salad with Shrimp and Pork

Water Lily Stem Salad with Shrimp and Pork is a dish that combines fresh water lily stems with rich shrimp and pork, creating an appealing, unforgettable flavor.

Ingredients

• Water Lily Stems: 500g
• Beef: 200g
• Shrimp: 200g
• Carrot: 1 (medium)
• Mixed herbs: A small amount (Vietnamese coriander/basil)
• Sesame oil: 1 teaspoon
• Vinegar: 300ml
• Garlic oil: 1 tablespoon
• Coarse salt: 1 teaspoon
• Common seasonings: A small amount (seasoning powder/salt/sugar/ground pepper)

Water Lily Stem Salad with Shrimp and Pork, garnished with herbs and peanuts.

How to Choose Fresh Ingredients

How to choose fresh shrimp:

• You should buy shrimp with fresh, translucent shells and a characteristic sea scent.
• Prioritize shrimp with heads firmly attached to their bodies.
• Avoid buying shrimp with soft shells, a slimy feel when touched, and an unpleasant odor.

How to choose fresh beef:

• You should buy pieces with bright red lean meat, interspersed with streaks of fat for better flavor when eaten.
• Good pieces typically have clear, interwoven muscle fibers and feel firm and elastic to the touch.
• Do not choose pieces with pale meat and a slimy surface.

Preparation Steps

1. Prepare ingredients:
   • Water Lily Stems: Wash thoroughly, cut off the base, separate the flowers from the stems. Cut the stems into segments about two finger-lengths long.
   • Shrimp: Wash, peel, devein, and remove the heads.
   • Beef: Slice thinly.
   • Carrot: Peel, wash, and julienne.
2. Marinate beef:
   • Marinate the beef with a little seasoning powder, salt, sugar, ground pepper, and sesame oil for about 15 minutes to allow the flavors to soak in.
3. Boil shrimp:
   • Boil shrimp in simmering water for about 2-3 minutes until cooked, then remove and drain.
4. Mix the salad:
   • Combine water lily stems, beef, shrimp, carrots, and mixed herbs in a large bowl.
   • Prepare the dressing by stirring together vinegar, garlic oil, coarse salt, and a little sugar.
   • Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss well.
5. Finished dish:
   • The Water Lily Stem Salad with Shrimp and Pork has a sweet and sour, rich, and appealing flavor. The water lily stems are delightfully crunchy, the beef is tender and sweet, and the shrimp is succulent, creating a perfect dish.

Water Lily Stem Salad with Sesbania Grandiflora Flowers

Water Lily Stem Salad with Sesbania Grandiflora Flowers is a unique combination of two types of flowers, offering a fresh and visually appealing flavor.

Ingredients

• Water Lily Stems: 300g
• Sesbania Grandiflora Flowers: 100g
• Vegan Shrimp: 100g
• Lime: 1
• Chili: 1
• Coriander: A small amount
• Vegan seasoning powder: 1/2 teaspoon
• Salt/sugar: A small amount
• Vegan fish sauce: 1 tablespoon

Water Lily Stem Salad with Sesbania Grandiflora flowers and vegan shrimp, beautifully arranged.

How to Choose Fresh Sesbania Grandiflora Flowers

• The best Sesbania Grandiflora flowers are those that have just bloomed, are intact, and show no signs of bruising or worms.
• It’s best to choose freshly picked flowers with a vibrant yellow color.
• Absolutely avoid buying flowers that are fully open, still green, or have dark, bruised surfaces.

Where to Buy Good Vegan Shrimp

You can easily find vegan shrimp at supermarkets, specialty vegetarian food stores, or order online through e-commerce platforms.

Preparation Steps

1. Prepare water lily stems:
   • For the water lily stems, separate the flowers and set aside. Gently peel the outer layer of the stems and cut them into segments about two finger-lengths long.
   • Place the cut water lily stems into a bowl, sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of salt, mix well, and let sit for 30 minutes.
2. Stir-fry vegan shrimp:
   • Heat a pan on the stove, add a small amount of chopped coriander, stir well, then add the vegan shrimp. Season with 1/2 tablespoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vegan seasoning powder.
   • Stir-fry for about 5 more minutes until the shrimp are cooked and flavored, then turn off the heat.
3. Make the salad dressing:
   • The salad dressing will consist of 1/2 tablespoon of sugar, 1 sliced chili, and the juice of 1 lime. Stir well, then add 1 tablespoon of vegan fish sauce.
   • Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference.
4. Mix the salad:
   • After 30 minutes of soaking in salt, the water lily stems will be tender. Squeeze out the excess salt water, then place the water lily stems in a bowl, add Sesbania Grandiflora flowers, coriander, and stir-fried vegan shrimp. Finally, pour the dressing over everything and toss thoroughly.
5. Finished dish:
   • The Water Lily Stem Salad with Sesbania Grandiflora Flowers has a wonderfully rich and appealing combination of sour, sweet, and spicy flavors. The water lily stems are tender and infused with seasonings, blending with the Sesbania Grandiflora flowers and succulent vegan shrimp, making it a dish everyone will adore.

Water Lily Stem Salad with Oyster Mushrooms

Water Lily Stem Salad with Oyster Mushrooms is a light yet equally appealing dish, perfect for family meals.

Ingredients

• Water Lily Stems: 100g
• Oyster Mushrooms: 300g
• Cucumber: 1
• Carrot: 1/2
• Horn chili: 1
• Roasted peanuts: 50g
• Vietnamese coriander: A small amount
• Vegan fish sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Lime juice: 1.5 tablespoons
• Chili sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Cooking oil: 1 tablespoon
• Soy sauce: 2 tablespoons
• Sugar: 3 tablespoons

Water Lily Stem Salad with Oyster Mushrooms, cucumber, carrots, and peanuts, served on a plate.

How to Choose Fresh Oyster Mushrooms

• You should choose mushrooms with large, intact caps that are white or gray; these are usually tastier!
• Observe the mushroom cap, choosing mushrooms with a slightly indented apex and thin gills underneath.
• Do not choose mushrooms that are too small, have bruised or scratched caps, or appear slightly dark.

Preparation Steps

1. Make the salad dressing:
   • To make the dressing, combine 2 tablespoons of vegan fish sauce, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1.5 tablespoons of lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of chili sauce in a bowl. Stir well until all ingredients are dissolved.
   • Taste and adjust seasonings to your family’s preference!
2. Prepare vegetables:
   • For the water lily stems, peel off the outer layer, wash thoroughly, and cut into segments about two finger-lengths long. Wash the cucumber well, cut in half lengthwise, then slice into rounds, removing the seeds.
   • Next, roll up the outer skin of the cucumber and julienne it. For the carrot, peel, wash, and julienne.
   • For the horn chili, cut off the ends, wash thoroughly, remove the seeds, and julienne.
3. Prepare and stir-fry mushrooms:
   • Wash the mushrooms thoroughly and tear them into small pieces. Heat a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Once hot, add the mushrooms and season with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. Stir-fry for about 7 minutes until the mushrooms are cooked and flavored, then turn off the heat!
   • Tip: Stir-fry over high heat to prevent the mushrooms from releasing too much water.
4. Mix the salad:
   • Layer the water lily stems, cucumber, carrots, julienned horn chili, and mixed herbs in a large bowl. Sprinkle crushed roasted peanuts on top. Finally, pour the dressing over everything and toss until all ingredients are well-coated.
   • Arrange the salad on a plate, top with the stir-fried oyster mushrooms, and garnish with a few water lily flower petals to complete our dish.
5. Finished dish:
   • The Water Lily Stem Salad with Oyster Mushrooms is complete with vibrant colors, a rich and well-absorbed flavor, offering a sweet, sour, and mildly spicy taste.
   • The crunchy carrots and cucumber, along with tender water lily stems, combined with oyster mushrooms, allow you to fully experience the refreshing sweetness of the vegetables, providing an unforgettable culinary experience.

Conclusion

Water Lily Stem Salad is a rustic yet appealing dish, perfect for family meals. With these simple and easy-to-follow recipes, you can easily enrich your menu. Save these recipes and try them out now to experience the wonderful flavor of mixed water lily stem salad.