A delicious meal does not necessarily mean a meal with complicated dishes; sometimes a good meal is simply made with rustic, everyday foods. TasteVN will introduce you to 2 ways to prepare boiled gourd with fermented tofu and eggs to make your family meal even tastier. Get cooking and make this steamed dish right away!
1. Boiled gourd with fermented tofu
Preparation
10 minutes
Cooking
15 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Boiled gourd with fermented tofu Serves 3
Fermented tofu 1/2 box (about 100g) Gourd 1 piece Chili 1 piece Sugar/salt A little
How to choose good fermented tofu
- There are 3 common types of fermented tofu: white tofu (made from drained tofu, then fermented naturally, and finally adding spices), red tofu (the soaking liquid of red tofu has added red rice, making it darker, thicker, and more aromatic), and taro tofu (fermented from steamed taro root).
- Good fermented tofu is usually fermented in clay jars or glass containers, and the tofu pieces remain relatively intact, not broken or mushy.
- Good tofu pieces have a moderate softness, not too hard or dense, as this indicates that the tofu was fermented from tofu mixed with gypsum, lacking the natural richness and aroma.
- Additionally, you can also make your own delicious and fragrant fermented tofu at home using the recipe shared by TasteVN.
See more: Simple homemade fermented tofu recipe
How to make boiled gourd with dipping sauce
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Prepare the ingredients
Buy gourd, peel it, wash it clean with cold water, then place it in a basket to drain.
Cut the gourd into slices about 1/2 finger thick, do not cut too thin.
Wash the chili, remove the stem, then slice it thinly.
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Boiled Gourd
Place a pot on the stove, add 1 liter of water, and bring it to a boil over high heat. When the water is boiling vigorously, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of sugar to the pot, stirring well until the seasonings dissolve completely.
Once the sugar and salt have dissolved in the water, add the gourd to boil. Reduce to medium heat and cover, boiling the gourd for about 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, open the lid and check if the gourd has become clearer. Use the end of a chopsticks to pierce through a slice of gourd; if it’s soft, turn off the heat.
Remove the gourd and place it in a bowl of cold water to soak for about 5 minutes until it cools completely, then drain and arrange it on a plate.
Tip: To prevent the boiled gourd from turning dark and to maintain its crunchy, sweet, juicy texture and beautiful green color, after boiling, you should soak the gourd in cold water for 5 minutes before serving it on a plate.
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Making fermented bean dip
Put 1/2 box of fermented beans into an bowl along with 1 tablespoon of sugar.
Use a spoon to mash the fermented beans into a smooth mixture, mixing well until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Add a few slices of fresh chili to the fermented bean mixture, mix well and the dip is ready.
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Final product
The boiled gourd is perfectly cooked, retaining its bright green color, crisp texture, juiciness, and natural sweetness.
The aromatic and creamy fermented bean dip is blended smoothly, served with a bit of spicy fresh chili to stimulate the taste buds.
Boiled gourd with fermented bean dip is an extremely simple dish but very appealing, easy to eat, and a great choice to prevent boredom and balance nutrition for the family meal.
2. Boiled pumpkin with egg dip
Preparation
5 minutes
Cooking
10 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Boiled pumpkin with egg dip Serves 3 people
Pumpkin 1 piece Duck eggs 2 pieces (or chicken eggs) Hot chili 1 piece Soy sauce 4 tablespoons Salt 1 teaspoon
How to choose fresh and delicious duck eggs
- Use your hand to feel the surface of the eggshell; if the surface is rough and slightly coarse, it’s fresh duck eggs; if the surface is smooth, it means the eggs have been stored for a while.
- Hold the egg up to the light, or roll up a piece of newspaper and shine it under sunlight; you will see a small air chamber, and if the yolk is orange or light pink, it’s a fresh egg. Conversely, if you see a large air chamber, the yolk is red and has streaks, it’s an old egg.
- Shake the egg. If you hear a sound, it means the egg has been stored for a long time; if there is no sound, it is fresh.
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How to cook Boiled pumpkin with egg dip
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Prepare the pumpkin
Peel the pumpkin, wash it clean with water several times. Then cut it into bite-sized pieces about 1/2 finger thick.
Tip: Don’t cut it too thin, or you won’t be able to taste the sweetness of the pumpkin.
Wash the chili and then cut it into thin slices.
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Make boiled gourd with egg dip
Put half a pot of water on the stove to heat, when the water boils, add 1 teaspoon of salt along with all the prepared gourd and boil for about 5 minutes.
When the water boils again and the gourd is cooked, remove it and place it in a bowl of cold water to soak for about 5 minutes. Finally, remove it and let it drain.
Tip: Soaking the gourd in cold water after boiling will help it retain its bright green color and maintain a certain crunchiness.
Using the pot of water that was used to boil the gourd, wait for the water to boil again, then add 2 duck eggs to boil for about 5 minutes, then take them out and soak them in a bowl of water to cool down before peeling off the shells.
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Finished Product
The boiled squash is just soft enough, still retaining its natural sweetness, and biting into the fatty egg combined with a bit of spicy soy sauce awakens the taste buds.
This simple boiled squash with egg dip is very appetizing, so give it a try right away.
How to Choose Fresh and Delicious Squash
- Good squash has a bright green skin, intact and not damaged.
- When touched, it feels smooth with fine hairs, firm in hand, and not too light.
- Also, choose those with a thick stem, firmly attached to the body, possibly with sap, indicating that it has just been harvested.
- Generally, young squash tastes better than older ones because it is sweeter and softer to eat.
See more: Benefits of squash for health
See more
So TasteVN has guided you on 2 simple recipes for boiled bottle gourd with dipping sauce and eggs that are easy to make for family meals. This dish is both simple and very delicious, isn’t it? Wishing you success in making it!
*Image sources and recipes are shared from Facebook: TuyetNhung Tran and Hòa Oggy
