The smell of toon, soft and distant,
Scattered in the branches, scattered in the pot,
Scattered on the plate, overflowing with fragrance and happiness.
01
Toon on the tip of the tongue
The valley rain came as scheduled, and the toons that curled up for a winter, full of new red stamens, gradually showed spring buds that provoked gluttonous insects.
For as long as I can remember, there have been toons everywhere on the hills and landsides around my hometown. Because "Tsubaki" and "spring" have the same sound, planting Tsubaki trees in front of the door or in the yard means that spring is full of joy and is an auspicious thing.
Before and after the rain in the valley, the buds of Tsubaki that have been stored for a winter poke out of the branches, stretch on their backs, tender green and purple red, and their unique smell also spreads with the warm spring.
Toon, known as the "green vegetable on the tree", is the first vegetable that can make your mouth taste fragrant.
The edible part is its young buds and young leaves, commonly known as toon head, and Ma Lan head, wolfberry head together called "spring vegetable three heads", and mulberry buds, willow buds, pepper buds, etc. are all "vegetables growing on the tree", known for their aromatic beauty, and the rich and heavy aroma is enough to make people remember at one time.
The first stubble toon has the highest nutritional value. The more tender the toon buds, the more fragrant they will be. Whether it is the taste or color of the second stubble toon, it can't catch up with the first stubble toon, as the saying goes: "Before the rain, the bamboo shoots after the rain, one meal a day with longevity." ”
After the spring rains, the toon tree gives birth to young buds overnight, the buds and leaves are not comfortable, the color is purple and red, the smell of the fragrance is tangy, and the toon buds grow to about five or six inches long, and they can be picked off for people to enjoy.
My mother simply believed in the rural legend that "toon buds are not infected with disease", and in spring, we can always see the figure of toon on the dinner table at home, changing patterns to fill our taste buds.
Cold toon, toon scrambled eggs, toon tofu tofu, fried toon fish, pickled toon, etc., under the mother's skillful cooking, toon has become an unforgettable delicacy in the depths of memory.
When I grew up, I realized that toon sprouts are really "treasures", which are rich in vitamins, carotene and other nutrients, which can nourish blood and lungs, and have high nutritional value.
The toon on the tip of the tongue is always evocative, it is not only an ingredient, but also an expression of emotion. Wherever you go, it represents the taste of home.
02
Filled with fragrance and happiness
The mother washes the toon sprouts and blanches them in boiling water to turn them from red to green.
Remove and strain the water, then chop it, put it in the egg mixture, add an appropriate amount of salt, and stir quickly with chopsticks.
Put an appropriate amount of oil in the iron pot, pour in the toon egg liquid after the oil is hot, fry until golden brown on both sides, shovel into the plate, the tangy fragrance tempts you to have no time to serve the rice, you can't wait to clip a piece and put it in your mouth.
Suddenly, the tender eggs and crunchy toons are smooth in the mouth, making you chew more and more flavorful, and the unique fragrance makes the mouth tongue full of nostalgia.
I love the fried toon fish made by my mother because it is a carrier of love.
Mother mixes a bowl of thin noodles, beats an egg in it, holds a verdant toon bud with chopsticks, rolls it in the thin noodles, and puts it in a heated oil pot, which immediately "sizzles".
The batter-coated toon is really like a lively little fish, frolicking happily in the "water". When the batter-coated toon is cooked, it looks like fried small yellow croaker, so it is named "toon fish".
Served on a plate, the color is golden, the outside is charred and the inside is tender, and there is an indescribable fragrance.
In the pen of writer Wang Zengqi, there is a toon mixed with tofu that can be called the top grade: "Tender toon head, the buds and leaves are not comfortable, the color is purple and red, the smell of the fragrance is tangy, the boiling water is slightly hot, the stem leaves turn green, take out, knead with fine salt, wait for cold, cut into minced pieces, mix with tofu, and add a few drops of sesame oil." A basket of entrance, three springs do not forget. "Toon mixed with tofu can be called a "perfect match".
The toon has soothed the poor years of the past, and has become an inextricable memory in people's hearts in today's rich days.
The smell of toon, soft and distant, wafts on the branches, wafts in the pot, wafts in the plate, overflowing with fragrance and happiness.
Source: Farmer's Daily
Image: Visual China Xinhua News Agency
Author: Chen Zihan