Tay Ninh is a dry, hot region located in southwestern Vietnam. It’s famous for being the home of the Cao Dai religion and for many unique specialties you should try at least once when coming here.
What is the specialties of Tay Ninh?
Salt shrimp
Tay Ninh is not a coastal province or the best place for shrimp, but the Shrimp Salt there is still one of the most famous specialties. The ingredients for making shrimp salt are very simple: salt, shrimp, meat, garlic, and chili… These ingredients are mixed, roasted over the fire without any chemical additives, and dried in the sun so the salt can be smelled before it can be seen. It should not be too dry or too wet. After completion, the shrimp salt can be used as a companion of many dishes, especially fresh fruits.
Trang Bang Bread Soup
Trang Bang Bread Soup is made in Trang Bang town, Tay Ninh province, and served with boiled pork, tapioca noodles, and local herbs. The most important thing is the broth, which is made from bones and the region’s traditional spices. In addition to the bread soup cake are the herbs like sprouts, chili, lemon, and many other types of vegetables. There are many places that try to mimic this special dish, but only in its origin can you enjoy the truly flavorful.
Trang Bang dew-wetted rice paper
Referring to Tay Ninh without mentioning this rice paper is a mistake. Trang Bang dew-drying rice paper here is extremely famous in Vietnam. Making these seemingly simple rice paper cakes requires a lot of work and effort from the maker. From selecting ingredients to spreading the cake and drying the dew, people put all their effort into this.
Dew-dried rice paper with bacon, herbs, other vegetables, and sauce is a favorite dish for many people, especially on hot summer days.
Black Virgin Mountain snail
This seasonal snail is a rare species that lives in caves on Black Virgin Mountain. The hunting season falls on January (Lunar Calendar) when they go out for food and look for a lover. With the source of food from medicines and herbs, the snails provide many nutrients and can help to cure some diseases. No need to clean a lot; the snail can be turned into many types of dishes such as grilled, steamed with lemongrass or ginger, fried tamarind… all bring an irresistible taste. The snail’s meat is tough and crispy, with a sweet taste that makes this dish so special. You can use it with fish sauce, shrimp sauce, or any sauce that you like.
Black Virgin Mountain lizards
This is considered a unique specialty of Tay Ninh mountains and forests. Black Virgin Mountain lizards belong to the gecko family and have white lines on their backs. They live mainly in the hollows and appear more from April to August.
During the hot season, they go out to sunbathe, which is a great opportunity for local people to hunt them. Also, figs or termites are effective lures for lizards to get out of the cave.
Ba Den mountain lizard can be prepared in many different ways, but to fully enjoy its flavor, it is best to try the crispy mountain lizard. The unique combination of vegetables and tamarind sauce makes this famous specialty of this land.
Grapefruit rolls
People often call grapefruit rolls vegetarian rolls because of the ingredients they contain. The local people are indeed creative in removing the bitterness of grapefruit skin and mixing it with sliced raw papaya, star fruit, chili pepper, Erythrina orientalis leaves, and banana leaves…
A perfect roll has a pink color mixed with a little red. The rolls have to be neither too tough nor too soft. The taste combines salty, sour, sweet, spicy… all in one.
Tay Ninh veal
Beef is available everywhere, but in Tay Ninh, the veal is naturally grazed; the chewy, pink, and fresh beef is used to make many dishes.
Having a taste of the delicious, fresh veal marinated with spices and grilled over embers will certainly not disappoint you.
Source: collected by An
Comment (0)