If bugs and bamboo worms are insects that are abundant in the northern mountainous provinces, in the Central Highlands, the pupa is a specialty dish of the people here.
The caterpillar pupae are the larvae of the caterpillars on the cassava tree, which are green like leaves, so you have to look closely to distinguish them. Cabbage is often grown for pepper plants to cling to, and this insect only eats leaves, so farmers do not spray pesticides, wait until they close their cocoons to harvest. By drawing a leaf, it is easy to catch 5-7 chubby pupae.
The caterpillar pupae are the larvae of the caterpillars on the cassava tree, which are green like leaves, so you have to look closely to distinguish them.
The caterpillar has a small, long, soft shape, the color is like a leaf, and can startle and frighten many people. In the past, the Ede people around the area went to catch worms to prepare dishes. It is considered a “hunger relief”, present in the tray of the poor family. At that time, worms were rarely sold in the market, if they were, the price was also very cheap. After that, the demand of people increased so they started to catch and sell, the price was much more expensive.
The pupa season begins around the end of March, the beginning of April of the solar calendar. This time, under the canopy of coffee forest, it is not difficult to see people who go to draw leaves looking for wormwood. To catch worms, people have to go early in the morning, trace the foliage under the roots or climb up high trees to catch worms. Worms are now less than before, if you work hard, each person can only catch 1-3 kg of finished products per day.
The dishes made from the pupa are greasy, nutty, aromatic and nutritious – likened to the “forest shrimp” of the Central Highlands.
Ms. Hanh Vinh – who specializes in supplying cassava worms to the provinces – said that the dishes made from the larvae of the wormwood are rich in flavor, rich in nutrients, and are compared to the “forest shrimp” of the Central Highlands. In the Central Highlands, at the beginning of the season, the price of 1 kg of wormwood is about 50,000 VND, at the end of the season it increases to 100,000 VND/kg. In Hanoi, the selling price of silkworm larvae when reaching consumers is about 150,000 – 200,000 VND/kg. Not only is it sought after in pubs, but even housewives are looking to buy this dish and process it for their family to enjoy.
The pupae were caught, after blanching in boiling water, drained, sautéed onions and garlic with oil for fragrance, then put the pupae into the island. Season with salt, sugar, pepper, fish sauce, chili, add finely chopped lemon leaves or molasses leaves for fragrance and then serve with rice paper. After roasting, the pupae are yellow, fatty, fleshy and very greasy, more delicious than silkworm pupae.
The pupa season begins around the end of March, the beginning of April of the solar calendar.
At pubs in Hanoi, a plate of wormwood costs from 100-120 thousand VND. One kilogram of cassava worm can process 3 dishes, but not always. “My restaurant has put this dish on the menu for a few years, but the caterpillars are increasingly rare, there is no regular stock. If any customer pre-orders, I will give priority”, Mr. Chinh (in Hanoi) shared.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Eva.vn – Read the original article here
