How do you eat this wild vegetable?

□ Science Times reporter Hu Lijuan

Recently, a video of children from a kindergarten in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province collectively making elm seed nests went viral on the Internet, making elm seeds stand out from many wild vegetables.

"Although elm seeds look inconspicuous, they are extremely nutritious and rich in protein." Wu Jia, deputy secretary general of the Nutrition and Nutrition Branch of the China Health Promotion and Education Association, told reporters that compared with common wild vegetables and green leafy vegetables, elm seeds contain 4.8 grams of protein and 3.27 milligrams of mineral zinc per 100 grams. It also contains carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, iron, carotene and other substances, which have the effects of calming the nerves, reducing internal heat, relieving coughs and reducing swelling.

Elm money is the fruit of the elm tree. It is green in color and shaped like a sheet with a bulge in the middle and thin edges. It looks very much like the hemp money strung together in ancient times, hence the name. Elm money is pronounced the same as "surplus money", which means a lot of surplus money.

Wu Jia introduced that there are many ways to eat elm seeds, and there are four common ones.

Steamed. Soak elm seeds in clean water for a while, wash and drain, mix with flour, and steam until cooked. You can add mashed garlic and sesame oil to mix, or add salt, sesame oil and other seasonings when kneading the dough to make steamed bread. Steamed food often has "more vegetables and less noodles", which is especially suitable for patients with "three highs".

Cook porridge. Similar to vegetable porridge, first put rice or millet into the pot, cook until it is almost cooked, then add elm money, and cook until it is done. You can add some chopped green onions or garlic sprouts according to your taste.

As stuffing. Wash and chop the elm seeds, and mix them with meat, shrimp or eggs to make stuffing for buns, dumplings, pies, etc. It is fresh and delicious.

Eat raw. Freshly picked elm seeds are tender, crisp and sweet. After washing, they can be eaten raw directly, or made into cold dishes or salads.

Wu Jia specifically reminded that spoiled elm seeds can cause food poisoning. If they change color or become sticky, they must not be eaten.