Irresistibly delicious dishes made from Tan Ky bamboo shoots.

(Baonghean.vn) - This specialty is simply called "loi bamboo shoot," a type of bamboo shoot found only in the mountains and forests of Tan Ky. Anyone who has tasted it once will remember it forever because of its unique flavor...

Loi bamboo shoots grow abundantly on the high mountains in the communes of Tien Ky, Dong Van, and Tan Hop (Tan Ky district). They are called loi bamboo shoots because they grow on the summit of Pu Loi mountain (Tan Ky). The shoots grow in dense clusters, developing very quickly, sprouting from the ground and then branching out profusely. The shoots are small, pointed, with small leaves and a glossy skin.

Freshly harvested bamboo shoots, still with their outer layers intact, are delicious.

During the bamboo shoot season, the Tho and Thai ethnic people carry baskets up the mountain to harvest bamboo shoots. The bamboo shoots are sold to traders at the foot of the mountain for 30,000 VND/kg after peeling; the price at the market is 40,000 VND/kg.

Bamboo shoots are selling well at the market.

When peeling bamboo shoots for cooking, people usually use a thin, sharp knife to gently slice along the length of the shoot, revealing the pure white core, then use their hands to peel off the remaining outer layer.

Bamboo shoots after peeling

Bamboo shoots are prepared in many delicious dishes that you'll remember forever after just one taste. One such dish is braised bamboo shoots with pork ribs. The bamboo shoots are peeled, leaving the tips about a handspan long. Pork ribs are chopped into bite-sized pieces and stir-fried with the bamboo shoots over low heat for about 10 minutes to allow the bamboo shoots and ribs to absorb the seasoning. Water is added to cover the bamboo shoots, then the pot is covered and braised for about an hour. When both the bamboo shoots and ribs are tender, season to taste. This dish is delicious because of the crisp, nutty, and sweet taste of the bamboo shoots and the fragrant, rich flavor of the pork ribs.

Braised bamboo shoots with pork bones

Equally delicious is stir-fried bamboo shoots. Peel the bamboo shoots, crush them on a wooden cutting board or slice them, then stir-fry them with chicken gizzards or beef – both are appealing. This stir-fry dish is attractive and stands out for its crunchy texture and the flavor of the bamboo shoots blending with the chicken gizzards or beef.

Stir-fried bamboo shoots with beef

Next is boiled bamboo shoots. This is the most popular dish. It's simple to make because after peeling the bamboo shoots, you just need to boil them for about 15 minutes to have a delicious fresh "vegetable" dish.

Boiled bamboo shoots

Boiled bamboo shoots, eaten whole, have a crispy, fragrant, and sweet taste. Especially when dipped in sesame salt or shrimp paste, the flavor is even richer. Boiled bamboo shoots served with vermicelli and tofu in shrimp paste is absolutely delicious, a truly authentic Vietnamese dish.

Bamboo shoots with shrimp paste dipping sauce are served with vermicelli and tofu.

Besides familiar dishes, bamboo shoots are also processed by the people of Tan Ky mountainous district into unique and attractive dishes such as grilled bamboo shoots over charcoal, bamboo shoots steamed with stream fish in bamboo tubes, bamboo shoot stew with fish, or spicy pickled bamboo shoots... All are distinguished by the crispy, fragrant taste of the bamboo shoots combined with the flavors of the accompanying dishes.

Phuong Hao