People and Food as Heaven Series – ‘Taro’ Again and Again (Referring to Taro Balls)
I've been listening to Zhang Jie's 'We Are All The Same' recently, it's really beautiful. I believe many of my friends feel the same way. I heard that Jiege likes to eat taro, so today I recommend this food to everyone – taro as the main ingredient.
Taro is an important vegetable and cereal crop with high nutritional and medicinal value. Taro starch is no bigger than 1/10 of potato starch, and its digestibility can reach 98% or more, making it suitable for people of all ages and especially for children and patients. Therefore, it has the reputation of 'Imperial Offering' since ancient times.
Nutritional Value
Taro is rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, beta-carotene, niacin, vitamins B and C, and saponins.
Medicinal Value
'Compendium of Materia Medica' records: 'Taro broadens the gastrointestinal tract, alleviates fever, breaks blood stasis, and removes dead muscle. The stems and leaves are applied to sores and swellings, and used to treat snake and insect bites.'
Taro contains a high fluoride content, which has a tooth-whitening and anti-cavity effect, protecting teeth.
Taro contains a mucoprotein that, after absorption by the human body, can produce immunoglobulin, also known as antibody protein, which can improve the body's resistance.
Ancient People's Cognition of Taro
Regarding taro, the Qing Dynasty's 'Miscellaneous Records of Fujian' recorded: 'Fujian people call large taro 'Mother Taro,' and small ones 'Taro Seed.' This is like the relationship between mother and child. The 'Mother Taro' and 'Taro Seed' became a symbol of maternal and filial love.'
Taro has both food and medicinal uses. In Taiwan and Southern Fujian, there is a proverb: 'Half-month July duck, half-month yam.' This refers to the best taro to eat during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Young people often enjoy refreshing and delicious yam balls in summer. Today, it's February, and I'm recommending this dish that Jiege loves most – Yam Balls (Yam Circles).
Recipe:
1. Wash the chicken legs and cut them into small pieces and set aside.
2. In a wok, add water, green onions, ginger, (liao jiu –), chicken. Blanch the chicken legs in the pot once and then rinse them in cold water.
3. Pour oil into the wok. When the oil is hot to about 80% heat, use a small flame, then add star anise, cilantro, dried chili peppers, garlic, ginger and doubanjiang (fermented broad bean paste) to stir-fry until fragrant.
4. Put the blanched chicken legs into the pot. After 3 minutes, add appropriate amount of soy sauce, old soy sauce, (liao jiu –) and sugar.
5. Put the chicken legs into a pressure cooker. Add water to cover the chicken legs, and cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes.
During these 15 minutes, wash, peel and cut the taro into pieces and prepare it. After 15 minutes, use high heat to cook the taro and chicken together for about 5 minutes. Delicious yam balls are ready.
