Must-Try Dishes When Visiting Phat Diem

Must-Try Dishes When Visiting Phat Diem

Phat Diem is not only famous for its stunning landscapes and the unique architecture of the Phat Diem Stone Church but also an ideal destination for food lovers wanting to explore the traditional flavors of Northern Vietnam. Join BDATrip in discovering the must-try dishes when visiting Phat Diem, making your trip more complete and exciting.

Phat Diem Vermicelli with Meatballs (Bún Mọc Phát Diệm)

When visiting Phat Diem, one dish you cannot miss is vermicelli with meatballs (bún mọc). This dish encapsulates the pure and sweet flavors of the peaceful countryside. The broth is simmered from pork bones for hours, creating a naturally rich and sweet taste without the need for additives. This is the secret that makes Phat Diem vermicelli with meatballs more special and appealing compared to other places.

The highlight of this vermicelli lies in the delicious meatballs made from finely ground pork, mixed with spices, shiitake mushrooms, and wood ear mushrooms, then shaped into balls and steamed until cooked. The meatballs are soft, sweet, and refreshing to the taste. The fresh, white, chewy vermicelli combined with the clear broth creates a perfect harmony of flavor and texture.

Fatty vermicelli noodles with clear broth
Fatty vermicelli noodles with clear broth

A proper bowl of Phat Diem vermicelli with meatballs must include fresh vegetables such as shredded water spinach, banana flower, bean sprouts, and aromatic herbs, all fresh and clean. Shrimp paste, an indispensable condiment, is carefully prepared to enhance the dish's rich flavor. You can add a little fresh lemon and a few slices of hot red chili to make the dish more enticing. The combination of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors will give you an unforgettable culinary experience. A warm, fragrant bowl of vermicelli with meatballs for breakfast not only fills your stomach but also warms you up on a chilly morning.

Phat Diem vermicelli with meatballs is not just a dish; it is a part of the local culinary culture, reflecting the life and people of this area. The vermicelli shops are usually located along small streets, near markets, or in ancient neighborhoods. Each bowl of vermicelli contains the cook's dedication and skill, offering diners not only a fantastic taste but also a warm, familiar feeling.

Yên Mạc Fermented Pork (Nem Chua Yên Mạc)

Mentioning Ninh Binh's culinary specialties, it is impossible not to mention Yên Mạc fermented pork, a dish that deeply embodies the traditional culinary culture of Northern Vietnam. Yên Mạc fermented pork is not just a dish but also a symbol of the meticulousness and sophistication in the preparation process of the local people.

Yên Mạc fermented pork is made from simple ingredients but becomes a dish with a unique and attractive flavor through the skillful hands of the locals. The pork used is carefully selected, must be lean shoulder or firm thigh meat. After being cleaned and thinly sliced, the pork is marinated with spices and carefully wrapped with garlic, chili, pepper, and a bit of roasted rice powder to create a light crunch and distinctive aroma. The natural fermentation process gives the pork a moderate sourness while maintaining the meat's natural sweetness.

Yen Mac sour spring rolls are unique
Yen Mac sour spring rolls are unique

A special feature of Yên Mạc fermented pork is the way it is wrapped in fresh banana leaves, giving it a natural fragrance and keeping it fresh. When eaten, you will taste the perfect blend of light sourness, moderate saltiness, and a slight spiciness from chili and garlic. Yên Mạc fermented pork is often served with sung leaves, dracontomelon leaves, fresh herbs, and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce, creating a full and complete culinary experience.

Not just a dish, Yên Mạc fermented pork is a part of the local cultural and historical story. The village of Yên Mạc has long been famous for its traditional fermented pork making, passed down from generation to generation, preserved, and developed over time. Each piece of fermented pork not only contains a distinctive flavor but also carries the love and dedication of the Yên Mạc people.

When visiting Yên Mạc, don't forget to visit the families that make fermented pork to witness the process, hear interesting stories about the history and culture here. Each piece of fermented pork not only satisfies your taste buds but also helps you understand more about the people and the peaceful, traditional land of Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh Ri Chicken (Gà Ri Ninh Bình)

Ninh Binh, with its beautiful natural scenery and rich culinary culture, is famous for many specialties, among which is Ri chicken. Ninh Binh Ri chicken is not only a delicious dish but also a symbol of sophistication and richness, bearing the rustic flavors of Northern Vietnam.

Ninh Binh Ri chicken is naturally raised, free-range on the vast fields and limestone mountains of this land. The natural upbringing creates the chicken's special meat quality: firm, sweet, and uniquely fragrant, unmatched by any other chicken. Ri chicken has thin, golden skin, and when cooked, it creates a crispy outer layer while keeping the meat inside tender and juicy.

One of the signature dishes made from Ninh Binh Ri chicken is steamed chicken with lime leaves. The chicken is cleaned, simply marinated with salt, pepper, and fresh lime leaves, then steamed until cooked. When the lid is opened, the fragrance of lime leaves mixed with the aroma of cooked chicken spreads, strongly stimulating the taste buds. The tender, sweet chicken combined with the natural aroma of lime leaves creates a delicate yet incredibly appealing dish.

Ninh Binh curry chicken has tender, juicy meat
Ninh Binh curry chicken has tender, juicy meat

In addition to steamed chicken with lime leaves, Ninh Binh Ri chicken can be prepared in various delicious dishes such as grilled chicken with salt and chili, boiled chicken with lime and pepper salt, and shredded chicken salad. Each dish retains the distinctive flavor of Ri chicken, with unique cooking methods, creating diversity and richness for the local cuisine.

Grilled chicken with salt and chili is one of the most loved dishes due to its rich and spicy flavor. The chicken is marinated with salt, chili, and other spices, then grilled over charcoal until evenly cooked, with crispy skin and tender, sweet meat inside. This dish, served with fresh vegetables, cucumber, and a special dipping sauce, will create an unforgettable flavor.

Sour Soup with Climbing Perch (Canh Chua Cá Rô)

When talking about Ninh Binh cuisine, one cannot overlook the sour soup with climbing perch, a specialty that embodies the rustic, refreshing, and enticing flavors of the countryside. Ninh Binh sour soup with climbing perch is not just a dish but also the essence of the beautiful nature and the skill of the simple, rustic farmers.

The main ingredient of this sour soup is climbing perch, a fish that grows naturally in the ponds and fields of Ninh Binh. Fresh climbing perch is carefully selected, cleaned, and cut into pieces. The fish meat is firm and naturally sweet, not fishy when cooked but fragrant, especially when combined with other ingredients.

The broth of the sour soup is a blend of pork bone broth and fish stock, creating a naturally sweet taste. The highlight of the soup is the mild sourness from sour fruits such as dracontomelon, taro stems, tomatoes, and tamarind. Aromatic herbs like rice paddy herb, dill, and spring onions are added at the end, bringing a gentle fragrance and distinctive flavor to the soup.

Sour soup with perch is a popular soup in the summer
Sour soup with perch is a popular soup in the summer

A perfect bowl of sour soup with climbing perch not only needs a refreshing broth and delicious fish but also must have various green vegetables such as water spinach, taro stems, bean sprouts, and a bit of fresh herbs. The fresh, cool greens combined with the hot broth create a perfect balance of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors, making the dish more appealing and easier to eat.

The special feature of Ninh Binh sour soup with climbing perch lies in the meticulous and elaborate preparation. The cook must know how to adjust the spices so that the broth is not too sour or too salty, while still maintaining the natural sweetness of the fish and bones. The white, firm pieces of climbing perch, when eaten, melt in your mouth, blending with the refreshing broth, creating a fantastic culinary experience.

Sour soup with climbing perch is often enjoyed in family meals, especially on hot summer days. A cold bowl of sour soup not only helps cool down but also stimulates the taste buds, making the meal more delicious and appealing.

Sticky Rice with Ant Eggs (Xôi Trứng Kiến)

Ninh Binh, famous for its beautiful natural scenery and rich culinary culture, not only impresses with traditional dishes but also attracts tourists with unique, exotic specialties. Among them, sticky rice with ant eggs is a unique dish that combines the rich flavors of the countryside with sophisticated creativity in preparation.

Sticky rice with ant eggs, just hearing the name is enough to make many people curious and excited. This sticky rice is made from simple ingredients but has a very special flavor. The main ingredient, ant eggs, is harvested from the nests of black ants on high branches in the spring. These ant eggs are small, milky white, nutritious, and have a distinctive fatty taste.

The preparation process for sticky rice with ant eggs is quite elaborate and requires skill. After being harvested, ant eggs are cleaned, marinated with a bit of salt to remove impurities and odors. The ant eggs are then sautéed with fried onions and pork fat, creating a fragrant and attractive mixture.

The sticky rice is cooked from yellow flower glutinous rice, a famous glutinous rice variety with large, round, fragrant, and sticky grains. After soaking overnight, the glutinous rice is steamed until just cooked, the grains are soft and sticky but not mushy. When the sticky rice is cooked, the fragrant sautéed ant eggs are evenly spread on the surface, then gently mixed to let the ant eggs infuse each grain of sticky rice.

Unique ant egg sticky rice
Unique ant egg sticky rice

The highlight of sticky rice with ant eggs is not only in its special flavor but also in the perfect combination of ingredients. Each sticky rice grain blends with the fatty taste of ant eggs, the slight saltiness of salt, and the fragrance of fried onions, creating an irresistible dish. This sticky rice is often served with sesame salt, roasted peanuts, creating an explosion of flavors in every bite.

Sticky rice with ant eggs is not just a dish but also a unique culinary experience, bringing diners back to the wild nature and simple life of the mountain people of Ninh Binh. This dish often appears in festivals, traditional New Year celebrations, or special family meals, showcasing the skill and talent of the cook.

Come and enjoy the must-try dishes when visiting Phat Diem to not only satisfy your taste buds but also leave unforgettable memories in your heart.

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