Lom leaves (also known as giang leaves, thồm lom leaves, moi leaves or vón vén leaves depending on the region) are wild vines common in the northern mountainous region, especially in Phu Tho (former Hoa Binh), Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien provinces...
Although bearing many different names, this type of leaf is quite familiar in the meals of people in the highlands, especially the Muong people.
The characteristic of Lom leaves is their mild sour, naturally cool taste, easy to eat and easy to prepare, often used to cook soup, stew or combined with many other types of food. Among them, the most prominent is the combination with buffalo meat, creating a dish imbued with the flavor of the Northwest mountains and forests.
Sharing about the secret to cooking delicious and standard buffalo meat with lom leaves, Ms. Nguyen Thi Duong, owner of a restaurant in Yen Thuy commune, Phu Tho province, said that lom leaves should be chosen as medium-sized, fresh, not harsh or bitter. For buffalo meat, priority is given to choosing pork belly with flank, so that it still retains tenderness when cooked.
After slicing the buffalo meat into bite-sized pieces, it will be marinated with minced garlic, ginger, mắc khén, pepper and spices for about an hour to absorb evenly. Wash the lồm leaves, gently rub your hands to create a natural sour taste.
When processing, I sauté garlic and ginger until fragrant, then add buffalo meat, stir-fry over high heat until it is firm. Next, add enough water and simmer until the meat is soft before adding bamboo leaves and cooking for about 10 more minutes," the restaurant owner shared.
According to Ms. Duong, a standard dish is when the mild sourness of Lom leaves blends with the rich sweetness of buffalo meat, creating a distinctive and unmistakable flavor.
Lom leaves are almost green all year round, easily growing, so people can pick them at any time. In each region, Lom buffalo meat dish is slightly modified according to their own taste and culinary habits, but the common point is still the harmonious balance between the ingredients.
