Wednesday, April 24, 2013

U = Uluru and Uc Vit

a-to-z-letters-u
Uluru, mistakenly called Ayers Rock by a large number of westerners, has always fascinated me. It seems to be a place located almost in the middle of nowhere, lying 335 km south west of Alice Springs; it is sacred to the local AboriUluruginal people, the Anangu. Wikipedia describes it as an island mountain and have reams of statistics and information. It is one of the two major features of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park and is a World Heritage Site. Visitors have been climbing this rock for a while, much to the dismay of the Aboriginals and apparently there have been some abuses like a striptease on the top of the rock. The Aṉangu also request that visitors do not photograph certain sections of Uluru, for reasons related to traditional Tjukurpa beliefs. These areas are the sites of gender-linked rituals, and are forbidden ground for Aṉangu of the opposite sex to those participating in tUluru_Panoramahe rituals in question. The photographic ban is intended to prevent Aṉangu from inadvertently violating this taboo by encountering photographs of the forbidden sites in the outside world. It really annoys me to see abuses of such traditions and it is to be hoped that the Aboriginals will eventually get back ownership of the area and be able to stop people from climbing Uluru.

This is a recipe I found on Food.com. I am a sucker for duck and it is the first thing I choose at any restaurant that serves it. I am not 100% sure that this picture is the actual recipe, it is labelled as Uc Vit, but the title has other Vietnamese words with it. I don’t agree with Celticevergreen about the duck, it should definitely be cooked rare or medium rare.

Uc Vit (Sautéed Duck With Garlic and Oyster Sauce)

By Celticevergreen

Recipe from my grandmother's recipe box from some restaurant in uc-vit-sot-dauSaigon, Vietnam. The recipe says that the duck should be cooked rare or medium rare. Medium to medium well would be better

Servings 4

4 duck breasts
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon sugar
2 teaspoons oyster sauce
10 green swiss chard leaves
4 1/2 cups steamed rice

Directions:
  • Rub the duck breasts with salt and pepper and leave for 30 minute
  • Heat the oil in a pan and sauté the duck until it is slightly crispy.
  • Slice the duck into thick strips.
  • The same pan, add a little more oil and the duck slices while sautéing the garlic, sugar, oyster sauce and pepper.
  • Add the green mustard leaves and lightly toss them for 10 sec or until they are well-coated with the sauce. Remove the leaves and set aside.
  • To serve, arrange the green mustard leaves on the plate and place the duck breast strips on top. Then pour the remaining sautéed sauce over. Serve with the steamed rice on the side.
Have a great day.
Jo_thumb[2]

18 comments:

  1. Until a few years ago I had always though of Ayers Rock but Uluru seems to be much more appropriate. Hope the Aborigines get it back.

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    1. To the Aboriginals, its always been Uluru. I assume the other name was given by the Europeans.

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  2. This year Dan has brought home several wild ducks (a couple of wild turkeys too) for the pot. I think the oyster sauce would be good. I'm one who likes duck cooked medium.

    Ayers Rock is breath taking. I've never seen anything like it and when you see it in different light it changes the over all look of it.

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    1. I love duck, but as I say, its very expensive round here. Nobody we know shoots.

      Uluru is beautiful isn't it, if you Google it you will see all kinds of wonderful pictures.

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  3. I've always been partial to rocks, and the bigger the better. I hope the Aboriginals get it back and continue to hold it sacred. The rest of the world just assumes ownership, and assumes curiosity dictates their rights. And we all know what assume means! :)

    Lovely post. I appreciate all your visits to my blog and especially the wonderful comments. Thank you!

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    1. The Aboriginals don't "own" land, they say nobody does. They just caretake it whilst they are here. It makes me spit to think of all the tourists desecrating Uluru and other such places.

      You are very welcome Yolanda.

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  4. never heard of Uluru, but it looks so beautiful.
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. You haven't? Not even as Ayers Rock? Australians no longer use the Western name any more though, they all use Uluru.

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    1. Wouldn't it, people do climb it although the Aboriginals aren't keen on the idea.

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  6. I promise not to do any of those things if I ever visit Uluru. But then I wouldn't anyway. I know too well what its like to have people disrepect a culture like that.

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    1. Your're right Laeli. I would love to actually see it though.

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  7. I always wanted to make it out the Ayer's Rock / Uluru when I was in Australia. Unfortunately I never made it that far West. Pretty photos! Thanks for sharing! Happy A-to-Z 2013! ~Angela, Whole Foods Living, http://www.wholefoodsliving.blogspot.com/

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    1. Lucky you to be in Australia even if you didn't make it to Uluru.

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  8. Definitely on my list of destinations - one of the main reasons I want to visit Australia!

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    1. I have a couple of friends living there too so I would like to visit them as well as see Uluru.

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  9. Thanks for the information:) It is sad to see people's beliefs fouled in this way. :( People can be so thoughtless sometimes!

    Happy Blogging!
    Kaye Draper at Write Me

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    1. I guess Europeans moving into other countries have been doing it for years.

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