Steamed Celery Bites

Just take a look at these ingredients and you’ll see what I mean when I say “peasant food,” or nong jia food. This dish uses a common technique found in more rural areas, where fewer provisions meant utilizing grains in more versatile ways. Chopped celery gets another life when breaded with flour and steamed, and the result is almost like a non-fried, soft “tempura” celery, where the bright peppery flavor gets toned down with mellow cornmeal. Much like other side dishes, like our