Ground squash is a refreshing vegetable, which not only has medicinal benefits but is also used to prepare delicious dishes. Join TasteVN to the kitchen to learn 3 ways to prepare ground squash that are both tasty and unique, and the preparation methods are extremely simple. Let’s make this stir-fry dish now!
1. Ground Squash Stir-Fried with Oyster Garlic
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
20 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Ground Squash Stir-Fried with Oyster Garlic Serves 2
Fresh oysters 200 gr Ground squash 200 gr Minced garlic 1 teaspoon Spring onion 3 sprigs (chopped) Lemon juice 1 tablespoon Cooking oil 2 tablespoons Common spices a little (salt/ pepper/ sugar/ seasoning powder)
How to choose fresh oysters
You can buy whole oysters to open yourself or buy pre-shucked and packaged oyster meat at supermarkets or reputable seafood stores!
For whole oysters
- Oyster shell: Choose shells with a pointed tip and two tightly closed layers, which indicates the oyster is still alive and fresh.
- Oyster meat: Choose oysters that, when opened, have their meat still clinging tightly and filling the shell, while also containing plenty of seawater. Avoid choosing oysters that are easy to open because that means the oyster has died, and the meat will not be delicious.
- Oyster meat should look fresh, plump, have the smell of the sea, and the characteristic smell of oysters.
- Avoid choosing oysters with eggs, as the meat will be bitter and not tasty. Do not choose oysters with a foul or rotten smell, or unusual colors as these are dead oysters.
For shucked and pre-packaged oysters
- You should choose to buy oysters at supermarkets or reputable seafood stores.
- Choose packages where the oysters look fresh and plump. Avoid packages with unusual colors, or shriveled oysters as they have been shucked for a long time and are not tasty.
- Make sure to check the production date and expiration date to select the freshest, high-quality oyster packages, ensuring safety when using them!
How to Prepare Stir-fried Ground Melon with Garlic and Oysters
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Prepare the Ingredients
To clean and eliminate the fishy smell of oysters, buy the pre-shucked oysters, and wash them thoroughly with diluted salt water mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (or vinegar), then drain.
How to Clean Oysters from SandFor whole oysters
- Soak the oysters in clean water for about 2 hours, then use a brush to scrub the oyster shells under running water to remove dirt.
- Then, use a large scissors to cut close to the edge of the oyster shell about 1cm, then use the tip of the scissors to press firmly down on the top edge of the oyster shell to separate the top shell.
- At this point, you just need to use a knife to gently take out the oyster meat.
For pre-prepared oyster meat: Wash the oysters with diluted salt water or white wine to eliminate the fishy smell, then rinse gently with clean water.
See more: How to Clean and Shuck Oysters Easily and Quickly at Home
Pick the ground melon, removing any wilted or wormy leaves, and discard the stems. Then wash thoroughly and drain.
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Sautéed Bottle Gourd
Place a pan on the stove over medium heat, heat the pan, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, then add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
Once the garlic is fragrant, add the oysters and stir-fry them well, then season the oysters with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder.
Stir well and then quickly add the bottle gourd, stir-frying for about 2 minutes until the vegetables are cooked.
Finally, add chopped scallions and coriander, season to taste, stir well once more, and turn off the heat.
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Final Product
You can scoop the sautéed bottle gourd onto a plate, sprinkle a bit of pepper on top, and it’s ready to enjoy!
The sautéed bottle gourd has a sweet and spicy flavor, is neutral in nature, and combines well with the fresh and nutritious oysters. Let’s prepare it for the family to enjoy.
2. Squash Soup with Minced Meat
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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Squash Soup with Minced Meat Serves 4 people
Squash 300 gr Minced meat 150 gr Fish sauce 1 tablespoon Salt/seasoning powder A little
How to Choose Fresh Minced Pork
- Choose meat that has a bright pink color; opt for lean minced meat so the soup isn’t too fatty. The surface of the meat should be dry and not oozy.
- You can buy minced pork from the market and then cook it, but make sure to purchase from reputable places.
- If buying packaged minced pork at the supermarket, pay attention to the origin, expiration date, and whether the packaging is still sealed.
- It is best to buy whole pork and ask the seller to mince it for you, or mince it at home using a meat grinder to ensure safety and quality when using.
How to make Ground Pork and Bottle Gourd Soup
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Prepare ingredients
Pick the leaves of the bottle gourd, wash them thoroughly with water, let them drain, and then use a knife to chop them finely.
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Cook the soup
Put 1 liter of water into a pot, place the pot on the stove, and turn the heat to high to bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the ground pork and wait for the water to boil again.
Add the bottle gourd leaves and season the soup with 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, stirring gently to dissolve the seasonings evenly.
Wait for the soup to boil again, taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking, then turn off the heat, scoop the soup into a bowl, and enjoy!
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Final Product
Ground meat soup with fresh gourd has a distinctive flavor of gourd, with sweet meat broth.
On hot sunny days, having a bowl of ground gourd soup, along with a bowl of salted eggplant, is very appetizing, let’s make it together!
3. Ground Gourd Salad
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
20 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Ground Gourd Salad Serves 4 people
Chicken breast 300 gr Ground gourd 300 gr Carrot 1 piece Onion 1 piece Chili 2 pieces Vietnamese coriander 5 sprigs Fried onion 2 tablespoons Chopped chili 1 tablespoon Vinegar 2 tablespoons Fish sauce 2 tablespoons Common spices a little (pepper/ seasoning/ sugar)
How to choose fresh and delicious ingredients
How to choose fresh and quality chicken
- To prepare a delicious dish, you should choose chicken breast pieces with white skin, as this indicates larger chickens with firmer and tastier meat; younger chickens tend to have more mushy meat.
- If you buy skinless chicken breast, observe the layer of fat on the chicken. You should choose fat that is white in color for better taste.
- Choose breast pieces with fewer striations in the meat. The more striations there are, the less fat and protein there will be; moreover, these striations make it harder for the chicken to absorb seasoning and sauces during cooking.
How to choose fresh carrots
- Fresh carrots will have a bright, deep orange color, with the green tops firmly attached to the root.
- When pressing the carrot with your hand, you should feel that the root is hard, not soft or mushy.
- When buying, you should choose those with a moderate size, elongated shape towards the tail, and smooth skin.
- Do not choose carrots with wilted tops, bruised bodies, slimy spots, or signs of bruising.
How to prepare Land Squash Salad
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Prepare and boil the chicken
To eliminate the unpleasant smell of chicken breast, wash it thoroughly with water. Then, take 1 tablespoon of salt to rub the chicken, rinse it with water to clean it, and let it drain.
Next, place the chicken breast into a pot, add 500ml of water. Put the pot on the stove and turn on the heat to boil the chicken.
Once cooked, remove the chicken and let it cool, then shred it into bite-sized pieces.
Put the shredded chicken onto a plate, marinate the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning, mix well, and let the chicken marinate for 15 minutes to absorb the seasoning.
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Prepare the other ingredients
Peel the carrot, wash it thoroughly, and then shred it finely. Peel the onion, cut it into round slices, discard the inner core and keep only the outer round slices.
Cut the chili in half, lightly crush it, remove the seeds, and then slice it into long strips. Pick the leaves of the Vietnamese coriander, wash them thoroughly, and chop them finely.
Pick the leaves of the land squash, wash them thoroughly with water, and let them drain.
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Make the salad dressing
Add 1 tablespoon of minced chili, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, and 2 tablespoons of vinegar into a bowl, and stir well until the mixture is dissolved.
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Boil the bầu đất
Pour 1 liter of water into a pot, place the pot on the stove, and turn on the heat to boil the water.
Once the water is boiling, add the bầu đất and boil for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are cooked. Then, remove the vegetables and place them in a bowl of ice water for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a plate to drain.
Tip: Putting the boiled bầu đất into ice water helps retain its beautiful green color, making the vegetables crispier and tastier when mixed in the salad.
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Mixing Salad
Add grated carrots, onions, and bell peppers to the plate of boiled ground squash leaves in turn. Then, add shredded chicken on top, drizzle with salad dressing, and mix well.
After that, add more Vietnamese coriander and fried shallots to complete it.
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Final Product
The ground squash salad is truly eye-catching, isn’t it? The ground squash leaves are soft and sweet, combined with crunchy carrots and onions infused with the flavor of the salad dressing, fragrant with the aroma of Vietnamese coriander and rich fried shallots.
On a hot day, having a refreshing plate of ground squash salad like this is unbeatable. Let’s make it together!
What is ground gourd?
- Ground gourd, also known as wild gourd, kim thất vegetable, heavenly black earth red, luoi vegetable, kham khom, sour vine vegetable.
- Ground gourd has a sweet, spicy, fragrant taste with a slight bitterness.
- This type of vegetable has the effect of clearing heat, which is why many people always use ground gourd to cook soup in the summer to cool down.
- In addition, ground gourd also has detoxifying, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory effects.
How to choose and where to buy ground gourd
- You should choose fresh ground gourd, with naturally green leaves that are not bruised.
- Do not choose yellow, wilted ground gourd that is damaged by pests.
- You can buy ground gourd at markets or on online shopping websites.
See more
Finally, we have completed 3 ways to prepare bottle gourd, it’s really simple, isn’t it? TasteVN wishes you success and hopes you cook many delicious dishes for your family!
*Refer to images, recipes, and information from YouTube channels Al Fa Mega Media Corp, Salty Meal, DannyGreen Lovers and suckhoedoisong.vn
