Hue is famous for its Culture & Culinary. Visit this city, the best way to understand its Culture is by tasting Hue local food. One suggestion is Banh Nam – the delicacy and traditional dish of ancient Hue.
Where does Banh Nam come from?
Bánh Nậm originated from Nam Phổ village, a traditional village located 3 km to the east of Hue city. The women created this Hue local food when poor families did not have enough rice for the whole members. They used rice, garden-sourced ingredients, and tiny shrimp to make a simple but nutrient dish and replace the rice meal for the family. Gradually, people offered this local food even for the Emperor in Hue Citadel. These below some reasons why this kind of cake is an iconic Hue specialty.
How to make this Hue local food?
Bánh Nậm is a rice cake creation of Hue women. Traditionally, the ingredients to make this local food includes rice flour, shrimp, and packed in the banana leaves. Every ingredient was chosen carefully. For years ago, Bánh Nậm was at best when made from De rice – a tremendous kind of rice came from An Cuu village. People ground the rice into flour and poured water in, then cook until this flour turn glue.
The mixture is usually by the tiny shrimp caught from the river or from Tam Giang lagoon. That is a special type of shrimp making the cake tasty. Shrimps also need grinding into pieces, marinate with some seasoning, scallions then fry.
People use “lá dong” – a kind of thick, large green leaves from Hue garden house to wrap this local food. Finally, steam the cakes for about 20 minutes and get a delicious local dish.
This Hue specialty reflects Hue women character
This savory sort of cake may be tremendous by Hue handywomen – Modest but Noble. Bánh Nậm looks very simple dish but you can see a patient and careful cook during those steps. This Hue local food is suitable for every eater such as children and the olds, from commoners to royal class.
The best way to eat this Hue local food
Find out a Hue local food stall, you need to know how to eat this kind of cake at best. Enjoy this steamed shrimp rice cake when it warm. Some foodies often remain the leaves, savor the cake with the smell of rice flour, shrimp mix leaves flavor. Use the spoon to take the cake and put some Nước mắm, the special-sweeten fish sauce with chili and lime. That is the best way to savor this Hue specialty.
If it sounds interesting you to try this local food in Hue, find us at Evening foodie cyclo tour. Or you want to find a home cooking activity? Let us show you in Kim Long green treasures, I bet you may take away some tips of Vietnamese cuisine.
