Bamboo grass is both a medicinal herb that can cure diseases and a delicious ingredient. It mainly grows in sun-drenched barren slopes or wilderness, at an altitude of 5000 to 10000 meters, and is distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and other places. What are the specific methods of using bamboo grass in cooking, and what does it look like? Let's take a look together!
Bamboo grass pictures
Functions and Indications of Bamboo Grass
① "Essentials of Medicinal Properties of Grasses": It can treat turbidity, heat, toxins, and promote urination.
② "Record of Herb Collecting in Lingnan": The crushed rhizome can be applied to ulcers and abscesses.
Usage and Dosage of Bamboo Grass
Internal use: Decoction, 10-20g, fresh product 30-60g.
External use: Appropriate amount, crush and apply; or grind into powder and sprinkle.
Morphological Characteristics of Bamboo Grass
【Morphological Characteristics】 Perennial. It has rhizomes and creeping stems. The stems are 20-50 cm tall, the leaf sheaths are hairless, and the leaves are mostly clustered at the base of the creeping stems and stems, with sparse or shorter internodes for stem growth.
The leaf blades are linear, blunt at the apex, 2-5 cm long, and 3-6 mm wide.
The inflorescences are conical and purple, 5-9 cm long; the branches are slender; and the spikelets are produced at the top.
Cooking Methods of Bamboo Grass
Bamboo grass pictures
1. Selecting Bamboo Grass
In the spring, bamboo grass is an essential wild vegetable on the dining table. However, to make delicious dishes with bamboo grass, you must first learn how to select it. If it is too old, the stem will be hard and the leaves will be coarse, making it taste like chewing grass.
If it is too tender, it will lack chewiness and fragrance. The best choice is to discard the two ends and choose the bamboo grass with red stems and green leaves in the middle.
2. Processing Method
Before cooking bamboo grass, carefully remove the old stems and impurities inside, leaving only the tender parts. Wash them, blanch them in boiling water to remove the astringency, cool them in cold water, squeeze out excess water, and cut them into small pieces. This is how bamboo grass becomes delicious.
3. Cooking Methods
There are many ways to cook bamboo grass. It can be stir-fried, cold mixed, used to make porridge, or sun-dried and cooked with pork belly.
(1) Making porridge
Making porridge with bamboo grass is a common method. White rice porridge with bamboo grass is a perfect match, with one green and one white.
(2) Stir-frying
Bamboo grass pictures
When stir-frying bamboo grass, it is better to use a little more oil than usual, as bamboo grass tends to absorb oil. However, bamboo grass should not be stir-fried for too long. Just stir-fry it until the fragrance comes out, which is about 30 seconds.
Bamboo grass can be stir-fried plain or mixed with meat. The most common is to stir-fry it with salted pork belly. First, cut the salted pork belly into cubes and heat the oil in a wok. When the pork cubes turn golden, add the previously prepared bamboo grass. Do not add water, just add a little salt, and stir-fry over high heat.
Dry-fried dish: When stir-frying bamboo grass, add a little water, but not all at once, otherwise, the bamboo grass will not be fragrant.
Add a little water to keep the bamboo grass from drying out. Dry-fried dish does not mean no water at all. Try it, a dish without water added will turn out dry and have a poor texture.
(3) Cold mixing
Cold mixing is the simplest way to eat bamboo grass. One of the most delicious ways is to mix bamboo grass with dried tofu. Let the dried tofu absorb the fragrance of bamboo grass, add sesame oil and chili powder, and you will feel refreshed even without tasting it.
