Huohuocai is a common wild vegetable. Its young shoots and tender stems and leaves can be eaten. Eating it as a cold dish is not only nutritious and delicious, but also helps to replenish calcium and prevent anemia. However, there are also some precautions when consuming huohuocai. Let's take a look at them below.
Is Huohuocai poisonous?
There has been a folklore saying that this plant is poisonous. In fact, this is a misunderstanding. Some people mistakenly identify the seedlings of "mandrake" as this plant, so they think it is poisonous.
There is also a situation where excessive consumption of huohuocai leads to certain symptoms, causing them to believe that the plant itself is toxic.
We need to understand that it is not toxic. However, one thing to note is that it resembles the seedlings of "mandrake".
So, we must not confuse them, because the real "mandrake" is indeed toxic. However, we cannot say that huohuocai is also poisonous just because they resemble each other.
How to eat Huohuocai
Cold dish of Huohuocai
Ingredients: 300 grams of huohuocai, 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, 1 head of garlic, 1 red chili, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of salt
Instructions:
First, select the tender stems and leaves, rub them several times with your hands to remove as much fuzz as possible, then wash and cut them into sections. Bring a pot of water to a boil, blanch the huohuocai for a moment, then place it in cold water to cool down, and drain the water. Place the huohuocai on a plate.
Cut the garlic into thin strips, and the red chili into thin threads. Mix the sesame oil, vinegar, light soy sauce, and salt to make a sesame dressing. Place the huohuocai on the plate, add the chili and garlic, pour the dressing over it, and mix well before eating.
Precautions for consuming Huohuocai
When it comes to eating huohuocai, many elderly people in rural areas will tell you that it can cause facial swelling. This is not a joke. The amount of huohuocai consumed at one time should not be excessive, and after consumption or contact, avoid strong sunlight.
Because huohuocai is a photosensitive plant containing porphyrin-like substances, exposure to sunlight can cause acute phototoxic inflammatory reactions, causing the exposed areas to turn black and even develop blisters.
Therefore, for those with allergies, it is best to eat as little huohuocai as possible. Even for normal people, it is advisable to avoid excessive sun exposure after eating huohuocai.
Also, if you observe a species of huohuocai with a purple color on the back, then you need to be cautious. Absolutely do not eat it, as this variety is poisonous.
