Forgotten Foods: Bamboo Shoot Herbal Soup (Laos)

Bamboo Shoot Herbal Soup
Prepared by Phetsamone, Sivilai, and Phonekeo Vangna
Jaeng Agriculture Cooperative/Lao Farmer Network
Laos

This Laotian dish incorporates a medley of indigenous vegetables, such as bamboo shoots, pumpkin, sponge gourd, and a unique blend of herbs, notably bai ya nang, which bestows it with a unique and distinctive flavor. Furthermore, this diverse combination of herbs and vegetables not only enhances the dish’s taste but also offers numerous health benefits.

Ingredients:                                                                                                           

• Fresh bamboo shoots, peeled and rinsed, 1 kilogram
• Fresh Bai Ya Nang (Tiliacora triandra) leaves extract/juice, 1.5 liters
• Khao beua (soaked sticky rice), pounded, 4 tablespoons
• Mushroom (can be a mix of different mushrooms), 1 small bowl
• Yellow pumpkin, cut into bite-size, 2 pieces
• Sponge gourd, cut into bite-size, 4-5 pieces
• Turkey berry (Solanum torvum), ½ of a small bowl
• Fresh chili, 6-10 pieces
• Rice paddy herb or Phuk Khar herb, 1 small bowl
• Lao fermented fish sauce (padek), 5 tablespoons
• Salt, 1 tablespoon
• Sugar, 1 teaspoon
• MSG, 1 teaspoon (optional)

Instructions:

1. Peel the bamboo shoots and cut only the white and soft parts to be used for this dish. Clean it with water.
2. Bring the bamboo shoots to a boil for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Change the water 2 times to remove its bitter taste.
3. Wash the bai ya nang leaves and extract their juice.
4. Take another large pot, and put into it the bai ya nang extract and the boiled bamboo shoots.
5. Add the fermented fish sauce.
6. Pound finely the khao beua with chili and add some of the bai ya nang extract. Pour this mixture into the pot.
7. After that, add the sponge gourd, mixed mushrooms, pumpkin, and Turkey berry.
8. Season with salt, sugar, and MSG (optional). Cook for about 30 minutes.
9. Lastly, add rice paddy herb and phuk khar herb. Mix all the ingredients. Adjust the taste accordingly. Serve and enjoy.

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The “Women Ensuring Food Security and Nutrition: Forgotten Foods Cooking Contest” is organized by the consortium Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC) through the Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Program (APFP) – Farmers’ Organizations for Asia (FO4A) and Assuring Resiliency of Family Farmers (ARISE). APFP-FO4A is supported by the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). ARISE is supported by IFAD.

More info at https://asianfarmers.org/women-ensuring-food-security-and-nutrition-forgotten-foods-cooking-contest/