Tulika Devi / Assam. The traditional food items of the ethnic communities of North East are very tasty. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is prevalent in tribal communities. There is an abundance of locally available things in their food, but non-vegetarian is quite famous in this area. Many such things are also cooked and eaten here, which are spicy and it is difficult for outsiders to eat them. ‘Eri Polu’ or silkworm dish is one such traditional dish, which is popular among the tribal communities of several states in the North East including Assam. The methods of cooking it have been passed down from generation to generation.
Many species of silkworms or Polu are found in the North East, which are also known as Andi or Irandi. This is the only larva other than Polu/Bombyx mori that can be reared at home. People keep these larvae in their homes for two main reasons – first to get the silk thread and second to eat it. Many methods of making Polu dish are prevalent in the ethnic communities of Assam. Many methods of making this dish are prevalent among the Matak-Maran people of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts. If you ever wanted to make Eri Polu / silkworm the traditional way Here are the methods to make it…
1. Eri Polu/Silkworm with Kadima
First, boil the cocoons of Eri Polu in water with one teaspoon of soda. After this take out Eri Polu from the cocoon. Heat mustard oil in a vessel and cook the onion in it till it turns brown. Add ginger and garlic paste, turmeric and salt as per taste. Fry the kadima and potato pieces cut into small pieces in oil till they are half cooked. After this add some hot water to it and let it cook. When Kadima, potatoes and Eri Polu are cooked, add some coriander leaves to it and take it off the gas and serve it with rice.
2. Eri Polu/Bamboo shoot with silkworm
Heat mustard oil in a pan and add chopped onions, green chillies and garlic. Before the onion is cooked, put the pieces of Eri Polu in it and fry it well. When the Polu is fried properly, add ginger and garlic paste, Namak and Bamboo shoots and add water. When it starts boiling, understand that the dish is ready and you can serve it with rice.
Keep these things in mind before eating the dish
No matter how much you like this dish, before eating it, please make sure that you are not allergic to it. If your medical condition is somewhat different than before, then in that case this new source of protein can create problems for your health. Eating it can cause allergies, which can be fatal for you.
Eating Eri Polu gives you a lot of protein
Silkworm pupa is a good source of proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins. In comparison to conventional food, the amount of nutritional elements such as protein, fat and carbohydrate is much higher and 230 calories are obtained per 100 grams of such food. Therefore, if you want to include silkworm in your diet, then it can prove to be a very good source of meeting the daily requirement of nutrients.
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Tags: Assamese, food 18, Latest hindi news
FIRST PUBLISHED : May 30, 2023, 16:21 IST