Stir-fried water spinach with garlic, a beloved staple in Vietnamese cuisine, has been named one of the 100 best vegetable dishes in the world by the renowned culinary platform Taste Atlas.

The humble yet flavorful dish received a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars and ranked 24th on the list, standing out as Vietnam’s sole representative in the global lineup.

Taste Atlas describes the dish as a traditional Vietnamese favorite, particularly suitable for vegetarians. Despite its simple ingredients - water spinach, garlic, fish sauce, salt, sugar, and oyster sauce - the dish offers an irresistible aroma and taste.

“Water spinach is briefly blanched before being stir-fried with garlic, salt, and sugar, with fish sauce added near the end to enhance the flavor,” Taste Atlas noted.

Typically served hot, this vegetable dish pairs perfectly with steamed white rice, making it a comforting and popular choice in Vietnamese households.

Topping the Taste Atlas list is Parmigiana, a classic Italian dish made with baked eggplant, tomato sauce, and cheese. Other notable mentions include Sopa Tarasca (Mexico), Diri ak pwa (Haiti), Dal tadka (India), Yemista (Greece), and Feijão tropeiro (Brazil).

The rankings were based on evaluations from approximately 10,667 Taste Atlas readers.

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia, Taste Atlas is recognized as a global map of traditional cuisine. According to founder Matija Babic, the platform’s food and drink rankings are curated with input from culinary experts and critics to ensure credibility.

Do An