Plantain flowers for the plantain family plantain buds or flowers, mostly grown in the southern region of China and Taiwan. Spikes terminal, pendulous conical; bracts spathe-like, reddish-brown or purple, each bract is arranged under the majority of small flowers, in addition to the bracts with the lowest 3 ~ 4 infertile flowers, the rest are developed. There are different records on the flavor of plantain flowers, with "Yunnan Materia Medica" recording that plantain flowers are "warm in nature, sour and salty in taste." The "Jiangxi Herbal Medicine" and "Guizhou Herbal Medicine" respectively recorded "cool in nature, bland in flavor." and "cold in nature, bland in flavor." and "Cold in nature, sweet and slightly pungent in taste." Therefore, the taste of banana flower is summarized as "sweet, light and slightly pungent, cold in nature."
When it comes to "flower culture", we have to mention the "flower country" known as Yunnan, the history of eating flowers in Yunnan has been more than a few thousand years, the earliest documented history of edible flowers can be proved to the Spring and Autumn period. In Yunnan people's table, banana flower is one of the most common dishes, according to local people, banana flower can be steamed, fried, boiled and eat a variety of ways to eat, can be used as a side dish can also be used as a main dish to eat, whether it is in the street stalls, restaurants, or hotels, lodging and so on are able to see the banana flower as an ingredient appear.
Can all plantain flowers eat?
Plantain flowers are not all edible, a plantain flower can be eaten only a quarter, remove the outer layer wrapped in a layer of purple flowers, and finally left the inner most tender yellow flower heart is the part we want to eat. Because the purple flower flakes in the outer layer are old and affect the taste, and the hard core in the flower bud should also be removed. Because the plantain flower is astringent in nature, it should be blanched to remove the astringency before it is put into the pot, and the plantain flower that has been picked and peeled off the outer flower pieces must be consumed within three hours, otherwise it will become old and can not be consumed.
The simplest way to make plantain flowers is to stir fry plantain flowers, this practice is the most popular local people in Yunnan. First of all, we must prepare one or two banana flowers, remove the purple flower pieces, leaving the inner most tender yellow flower heart, then have the patience to remove the bud in the hard core, the tender yellow flower heart cut in half, cut diagonally, start the pot of boiling water, water boiled and poured into the banana flowers to cook for three to four minutes, during which the banana flowers will oxidize, the color gradually become lighter. Fish up and spare, add a little oil to the pan, a little pepper, pour into the plantain flowers stir fry, add a little salt, stir fry for about five minutes can be out of the pan, sprinkle a little onion, vegetarian fried plantain flowers even finished. Don't look at it simple, this approach to maintain the original flavor of plantain flowers, reduce the loss of nutrients, eat dry with a little bit of plantain flowers unique astringent, is one of the most classic way to eat plantain flowers.
Plantain flowers can also be stewed in pork bone soup, can also be cold, can be fried with minced meat a plate of minced meat plantain flowers. But plantain flower is delicious, but there are some contraindications: plantain flower can not and fish, sheep, cold, eggs, garlic, these foods a piece of food; for the qi deficiency constitution, Yang deficiency constitution is not suitable for the consumption of plantain flower; where the fire is strong and leakage of sperm, yin deficiency of water deficiency, urination is not good, dry mouth and tongue are prohibited; spleen and stomach cold, loose diarrhea should not eat, raw food, acute and chronic nephritis and renal insufficiency is contraindicated. So, according to their own actual situation to eat oh, do not be greedy.
In addition to eating, plantain flowers can also be used as medicine. The Materia Medica Compendium" finally said that plantain flowers have the effect of eliminating phlegm, dissipating blood stasis and relieving pain. There is the main treatment of chest and diaphragm fullness, epigastric and abdominal pain, swallowing acid regurgitation, vomiting phlegm and saliva, dizziness, heartburn; dazed, rheumatic pain, women's menstrual dysfunction and so on. In addition, the efficacy of plantain flowers have the following points:
1, the treatment of cardiac paralysis: plantain flowers burned sex, research, salt soup point service two money.
2, the treatment of regurgitation and vomiting er diet acid phlegm, stomach, abdominal pain, chest and diaphragm fullness: plantain flowers two money. Decoction of water, point of water wine service.
3, the treatment of anxiety: banana flower one. Boiled pig heart food.
4, the treatment of consumption: plantain flowers two, pig lungs half a catty. Stewed in water, serve soup and eat lungs, one dose per day.
5, the treatment of angina: half a catty of plantain flowers, pig heart. Water stew.
6, the treatment of stomach pain: plantain flowers, pepper tree parasitic tea five dollars each. Simmering water service, the second day.
Can not imagine, plantain flower is actually full of treasure, so that plantain flower can do dishes, it is true!
If you want to have a deeper understanding of the "hidden culture", you can WeChat search the public number "Hidden Pavilion".