The Southwest region is not only famous for the majestic beauty of the river but also conquers diners with its rich and unique cuisine. Among them, fish noodle soup is the flavor of a southern land, imbued with the cultural identity of the Khmer people.
If you have ever enjoyed fish noodle soup in the Southwest region, you will definitely remember the unique flavor of Ca play - a unique spice that highlights the aroma and appeal of the broth. The ancient Khmer people brought this noodle dish from Cambodia to the Southwest, and it became an attractive dish when tourists came to this land.
Ca play, also known as vermicelli wormwood or chive wormwood, is a light yellow spice root, shaped like turmeric or ginger. The gentle, sweet aroma of coffee beans not only enhances the aroma of the broth but also helps eliminate the fishy smell of fish, highlighting the unique flavor of Western fish noodle dish.
The green beans used to cook fish noodles must be fresh because the drier the green beans, the more they lose their aromatic oils. The eggplant is washed, peeled, crushed, then boiled in a little water, filtered to remove the residue, and the juice is kept aside. Or you can also puree eggplant with lemongrass and then fry fragrant onions and garlic to season the broth.
Western fish noodle soup is very diverse in ingredients and names. Each locality has a different combination of ingredients that contribute to creating a unique version of this dish.
- Tra Vinh people call fish noodle soup as noodle soup, served with snakehead fish meat, roasted pork, spring rolls, raw vegetables, bean sprouts, banana ears...
- Chau Doc (An Giang) uses shrimp paste and tomato juice in broth, served with snakehead fish and raw vegetables.
- Soc Trang is famous for its unique broth made from fish sauce, eggplant, lemongrass and coconut water, served with snakehead fish, shrimp, and roasted pork.
- Bac Lieu has more shrimp and pork belly in a bowl of noodle soup cooked from fish sauce mixed with tin, creating a unique flavor that conquers other diners.
- In Go Quao district (Kien Giang), Khmer people call bun ca play "the best vermicelli". This dish often uses fish or eel to be boiled to get the juice, the fish is removed from the bones, the fish juice is seasoned with salt, chili, lemongrass... and two indispensable seasoning dishes are eggplant and beef sauce.
Fish noodle soup is not only a delicious dish, but also a specialty of the Southwest region that tourists cannot miss when they have the opportunity to visit the West.
PT (Long An Online Newspaper)
Watch video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4pvjkdcdx8
