In the rural areas of Nantong, black vegetables are the most planted by every household in winter. Sow the whole soil in the early September of the lunar calendar, and the water is less and the fertilizer is thin. Twenty days or so, when the vegetable seedlings grow to about an inch, the tender and thick seedlings should be moved to the ridges with a spacing of more than one chopstick, which is too dense for the vegetable leaves to grow.
Black vegetables have a long growth cycle. Black vegetables have been on the market in mid-October of the lunar calendar, but at this time, the taste is slightly worse and the tail is bitter. Residents rarely buy them, and most of them are provided to hotels. The locals didn't start eating until after first frost. After first frost, black vegetables are dark green and shiny, and the bitterness has been removed, making them delicious.
The varieties of black vegetables are black vegetables, chrysanthemum and horsehead vegetables. Among them, black collapsed vegetables are the most authentic. Black collapse vegetables are also called collapse vegetables and collapse vegetables. When the ground collapses, there are many leaves and few stems, the leaves are dark blue, overlapping and staggered, and the stems are dark green as jade. Shuang Ling is proud of snow, not losing pine plums. And after bitter cold, the color is more lush and the taste is sweeter. Therefore, scholars call it "collapse". Shanghai people also praise it as "puffer fish dish" because of its fat leaves and long taste.
The leaves of chrysanthemum are smaller than those of black cabbage, and they are curled like chrysanthemums. It takes a lot of time to clean, but the taste is also full and tender.
The stem of a horse is half-open, the leaves are oval like horse ears, and there are many heads of vegetables. Not as fat as black and white vegetables, but more tender after spring. Most experienced people pinch the heads of vegetables and leave the roots behind. There will be more vegetable heads in a few days, which can be picked repeatedly.
"Snow picking is going to collapse, and it tastes more fat like honey soup. Zhumen meat has no taste and is only an ordinary dish. " Fan Chengda, a great poet in Song Dynasty, likes black food, which shows that Nantong people are obsessed with black food.
After first frost, every household in Nantong lived on black vegetables every day. Bring the pot to a boil with a big fire. Ginger is hot, stir fry quickly, a few drops of white wine and a little salt. It is green and fragrant. There is a delicate spoonful of fat oil or lard residue, which tastes better. There are also dried shrimps or mushrooms, which I personally prefer.
Black vegetable vermicelli is a must for every restaurant. Winter dinner, the menu has not been turned over, I ordered black vegetable vermicelli, and it was over when it was served. The host called the waiter, and with a wave of the atmosphere, the black vegetable fans served another one.
Rural weddings and funerals are also delicious food. But it often wastes a lot. After a full meal, everyone stopped chatting and waited for black food. The chef is very picky about it. Black vegetables are placed at the bottom of the bowl and covered with greasy meat. A few chopsticks were turned over at one end, leaving the meat at the bottom of the bowl. Black vegetables are gone. There are also fried clams with black vegetables, which are two specialties of Nantong. They are delicious and make a big trip to the West. The guest commented while walking, and the host listened, "The food is good, but there is a little less black food." The host was reserved and exulting, and he was not lost on the surface. You go home to eat black food every day.
And I have been outside since I was a child, and I seldom eat at the same table. Most of my relatives know my habits and don't rush me. Just told the chef to bring me a bowl of black food alone. In the kitchen, I baked some rice cakes and a bowl of black vegetables with red firewood, and I ate very comfortably. The cook helps the cook glance at me from time to time and whisper something. This man is very strange. I don't mind either. Thumb up, good workmanship, delicious black food. The chef laughed. We Nantong people love this.
Black vegetables with fungus, tofu, meat and meatballs? I don't like all kinds of dishes, stir-fry and cook soup. When you are too lazy to cook, porridge and noodles are warm, and a bowl can bring you endless happiness. When I came home from work at night, the pot collapsed, black vegetables, braised pork and rice. After eating a big bowl, taking a hot bath and sleeping all day, I feel refreshed and full of vitality.
Black vegetables are not only delicious, but also nutritious. Rich in vitamins and trace elements such as calcium and zinc. It is said that the longevity of Rugao people in Nantong is related to eating more black vegetables. Wine is not afraid of the deep alley, and it is the favorite of Nantong people. Now it has become famous all over the world and has become the designated dish of fleet officers and soldiers. It is also exported overseas to generate income and benefit one party.
"Keeping out the cold has a homely taste, and the ice is rotten." Black food is the soul of Nantong people. Wherever you go, the pastoral flavor of the tip of your tongue is always indispensable. In winter, when visiting friends in the city and outside the province, it is indispensable in the trunk. There are no friends or relatives outside, "Nothing else, just bring some black food", which is affectionate and refreshing.
By the way, if you come to Nantong for the New Year, you should be prepared. On New Year's Day, I ordered a reunion dinner with red dots and a bowl of clear soup with black vegetables, shepherd's purse and tofu, but they were the main courses of three meals. You must like it.