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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
20 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Fried Anchovies with Lemongrass and Chili For 2 – 3 people
Banana flowers 150 gr (take the part of the young bananas still in the banana flower) Batter flour 4 tablespoons Lemongrass 4 stalks Chili 1 piece Vegetarian seasoning 1 teaspoon Sugar 2 teaspoons MSG 1/4 teaspoon Soy sauce 4 teaspoons Chili sauce 1 tablespoon
How to choose good banana flowers
- Choose banana flowers that are mature, inside which there are young bananas, look fresh, and when squeezed lightly with your hand, they feel firm.
- Banana flowers should have a dark red color, fresh skin, with a white powdery layer on the outside, feeling firm and heavy indicates they are good banana flowers.
- You should buy banana flowers from the type of seed bananas, as the mature bananas will taste better.
Ingredient images
How to make Vegetarian Fried Anchovies with Lemongrass and Chili
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Prepare the ingredients
For the banana flower, take the young bananas out from the flower, then separate each young banana.
Chop the lemongrass finely.
Slice the chili.
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Mix the flour
Add 4 tablespoons of flour to a bowl, add 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, then add 4 tablespoons of water, stir well until the mixture reaches a thick consistency.
Tip: If you want a crunchier outer layer, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice when mixing the flour. -
Mix the banana flower
Add the banana flower to the bowl of flour, mix well, then let it sit for 15 minutes before frying.
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Fry anchovies
You heat a pan or pot on the stove until hot, add 2 cups of cooking oil, when the oil is hot, you fry the anchovies immersed in oil over medium heat until golden brown on both sides. When the anchovies are golden, you take them out to drain the oil.
Tips for frying crispy and delicious anchovies:
- To prevent the anchovies from sticking to the pan, add them when the oil is just boiling, not when the oil is too hot or not hot enough.
- Fry in moderate quantities, not too much to avoid reducing the oil temperature, which can make the anchovies not crispy and may stick together.
- If the anchovies stick to the pan, turn off the heat, tilt the oil to one side, and wait for the pan to cool down, then the anchovies will come off on their own.
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Prepare the sauce
You put 1 tablespoon of chili sauce into a bowl, add 4 teaspoons of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of vegetarian seasoning, 2 teaspoons of sugar, and stir well until the sugar dissolves.
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Fish sauce
You place a pan on the stove, wait for it to heat up, then add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil and sauté 1 part of lemongrass until fragrant, when the lemongrass is fragrant, add the sauce and bring to a boil, then add the fried anchovies, add the remaining lemongrass, sliced chili, and stir evenly for about 2 minutes, then turn off the heat and serve on a plate.
Note: During the stirring process, be gentle; otherwise, the anchovies will break apart. -
Final Product
Crispy anchovies on the outside, chewy and soft on the inside, fragrant with lemongrass and a spicy kick. You can enjoy it with hot rice or baguette, along with cucumber, fresh herbs, or pickled vegetables, all of which are delicious.
Tips for preserving vegetarian stir-fried anchovies with lemongrass and chili
- You should use vegetarian anchovies right after frying so that the pieces are crispy and tastier; do not let them sit for too long, or they will lose their crunchiness.
- If you don’t finish them, put the anchovies in an airtight container and store them in the fridge refrigerator. When you want to eat, just take them out and stir-fry again to enjoy immediately. The storage time is from 1 to 2 days; to ensure your family’s health, it’s best to consume them within the day.
- Using frying oil multiple times is not good for health. Don’t rush to throw away the excess oil. Filtered leftover oil is very effective for cleaning. Any rust spots can be cleaned easily by pouring this oil on, using aluminum scrubbing pads to gently scrub until shiny. For light stains, just wipe with a paper towel. After cleaning off the excess oil, cover and store it for later use.
Above is the simple and delicious recipe for vegetarian stir-fried anchovies with lemongrass and chili from TasteVN. Wish you success!
*Refer to the recipe from the YouTube channel Bà Mẹ Quê