Can cattails be eaten?

Many people don’t know what cattail is. In fact, it is a fruit spike of a plant. This plant is widely distributed almost all over the country, especially in Yunnan, Hunan, Guangdong and other regions. Today, cattail is a widely used Chinese medicine. For example, it has anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effects. It is especially effective in stopping bleeding when there is trauma. So, in addition to external use, can cattail be taken internally?

Can cattails be eaten?

Cattails are a plant that grows in water. The pollen on the cattails becomes the Chinese medicinal herb Puhuang when dried. The cattails are the pistils, and the pollen on the tops of the cattails are the stamens. After pollination, the wind blows the pistils away to other places for growth the following year. Cattail root: strengthens teeth, improves hearing and eyesight. Drinking the soup from it regularly can prolong life. Non-toxic.

There is a kind of "water grass" growing by the water in ponds, lakes and other bodies of water in my hometown. When I was a child, I thought it was just a weed, but later I found out that it is actually an edible delicacy. Cattail stick, also known as cattail grass and ghost candle, is the name of a traditional Chinese medicine. It is the fruit spike of the Typha longicornis plant of the Typhaceae family or many other plants of the same genus (the fluff is used for medicinal purposes), which can treat bleeding from external injuries.

Cattail leaf actually refers to the rhizome of cattail. Dig it up and take it home, wash it, blanch it in boiling water, then chop it into pieces and mix it with corn flour. The steamed corn bread made from it will have a faint fragrance and taste a bit sweet. Nowadays, cattail leaf vegetable is made by taking the tender rhizomes of cattail, peeling the skin and soaking it for a day before eating. It can be fried, stewed, or used as stuffing. It can be used to make soups and stews, and is suitable for both meat and vegetables. It is a rare delicacy. Of course, cattail grass is also a traditional Chinese medicine, which has the effects of dispersing wind and dampness, and opening the heart.

Cattail is known as the "anti-Jin vegetable". There was once a touching legend about it: In the late Southern Song Dynasty, Liang Hongyu was eating cattail alone by the lake, and found it tender, sweet, crisp and fragrant. She then ordered her subordinates to dig it up as food, and finally defeated the Jin soldiers.

How to make delicious cattail

Ingredients: tofu, leeks, ginger, bread crumbs, pork filling, green onions

1. Wash all the necessary raw materials and prepare them for use.

2. Crush the tofu with a spoon and add it to the meat filling. Add the chopped green onion and ginger. Add salt, five-spice powder and chicken stock and stir until firm.

3. Shape the seasoned minced meat into fingers.

4. Coat the shaped meat filling with breadcrumbs.

5. Fry the meat sticks in a pan over medium heat until golden brown. Insert bamboo skewers and place on a plate covered with chives.