Cinnamon is a familiar spice in Vietnamese cuisine with a warm, rich aroma. Not only does it bring a unique flavor to dishes, but cinnamon is also known for its many health benefits. This article Kentary will share with you ways to cook with cinnamon to help you create delicious and nutritious dishes.

1. Benefits of using cinnamon in cooking

• Enhances flavor: Cinnamon has a warm, rich aroma that helps to remove the fishy smell of food and add flavor to dishes.
• Keeps the body warm: Cinnamon is hot in nature, helping to keep the body warm, especially good for those who often have a cold stomach.
• Aids digestion: Cinnamon helps stimulate the digestive system, supporting better food digestion.
• Good for the heart: Cinnamon helps lower bad cholesterol, which is good for the heart.
• Antioxidant: Cinnamon contains many antioxidants, which help protect the body from free radicals.

2. How to use cinnamon in cooking

• Use cinnamon sticks: Cinnamon sticks can be used to make broth, stew chicken, braise meat, cook curry, make cakes, and more.
• Use ground cinnamon: Ground cinnamon is often used to marinate meat, fish, seafood, make cakes, brew tea, and coffee.
• Use cinnamon essential oil: Cinnamon essential oil can be used to remove fishy smells, freshen rooms, and steam.

3. Some delicious dishes with cinnamon

3.1. Braised pork belly with cinnamon

This is a familiar dish on the Vietnamese family table. Cinnamon is added to the braised pork belly to create a distinctive flavor.

Ingredients:

500g pork belly 2 cinnamon sticks 1 piece of ginger 5 star anise 4 cloves of garlic 2 tablespoons fish sauce 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon cooking oil Coconut water

Instructions:

• Prepare the ingredients:

  • Wash the pork belly, cut it into bite-sized pieces. Marinate the pork with 1 tablespoon fish sauce and 1 teaspoon black pepper for 15 minutes.
  • Peel the ginger and cut it into thin strips. Peel the garlic and mince it.
  • Rinse the star anise. Crush the cinnamon sticks.

• Cook the braised pork belly:

  • Heat the cooking oil in a pot, fry the garlic until fragrant.
  • Add the pork and stir-fry until browned.
  • Add fish sauce, sugar, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon sticks to the pot, stir evenly.
  • Pour coconut water into the pot, just enough to cover the pork.
  • Simmer over low heat for about 1 hour until the pork is tender and the sauce thickens.

• Complete:

  • Turn off the heat, season to taste.
  • Serve the braised pork belly on a plate, garnish with chopped scallions and fresh chili peppers.

3.2. Cinnamon braised chicken

Cinnamon braised chicken is a dish with a rich, warm flavor, perfect for eating in cold weather.

Ingredients:

500g chicken (you can use chicken or broiler chicken) 2 cinnamon sticks 1 piece of ginger 5 star anise 4 cloves of garlic 2 tablespoons fish sauce 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon cooking oil Coconut water

Instructions:

• Prepare the ingredients:
  • Wash the chicken, cut it into bite-sized pieces. Marinate the chicken with 1 tablespoon fish sauce and 1 teaspoon black pepper for 15 minutes.
  • Peel the ginger and cut it into thin strips. Peel the garlic and mince it.
  • Rinse the star anise. Crush the cinnamon sticks.
• Cook the cinnamon braised chicken:
  • Heat the cooking oil in a pot, fry the garlic until fragrant.
  • Add the chicken and stir-fry until browned.
  • Add fish sauce, sugar, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon sticks to the pot, stir evenly.
  • Pour coconut water into the pot, just enough to cover the chicken.
  • Simmer over low heat for about 30-40 minutes until the chicken is tender and the sauce thickens.
• Complete:
  • Turn off the heat, season to taste.
  • Serve the cinnamon braised chicken on a plate, garnish with chopped scallions and fresh chili peppers.

4. Notes on using cinnamon in cooking

• Use cinnamon in moderation, do not use too much as it can cause side effects.
• Do not use cinnamon for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children under 3 years old, and people with heart disease.

With the information shared above, hopefully you have gained more knowledge about how to cook with cinnamon. Apply these methods to create delicious and nutritious