The southern part of the country is not only famous for its honest and generous people but also for its diverse cuisine with unique flavors. The characteristic of Southern cuisine is the harmonious combination of fresh ingredients and various spices, creating flavorful and rustic dishes that are incredibly delicious. Somo Farm will introduce you to the two most outstanding dishes in the Southern culinary tradition:
Bánh Xèo (or Sizzling Cake) – “Thin as Leaves, Crispy as Coconut Roots”
Bánh xèo from the South is considered an artistic creation of the local people. With its thin, leaf-like outer layer and a variety of fillings, bánh xèo is often made from rice flour, coconut milk, and various fresh vegetables. Taking advantage of the abundant natural resources from the rivers and waterways, Southern bánh xèo changes its fillings according to the seasons, incorporating ingredients such as straw mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, termitomyces mushrooms, coconut sprouts, and more, combined with fatty pork and shrimp. The delicate balance between the sourness of young mango shoots, the pungency of mustard greens, aromatic herbs, and water mimosa, along with the distinctive aroma of locally grown herbs, blends perfectly in sweet and sour fish sauce, leaving a lasting impression on your taste buds.
Lẩu Mắm (Fish Sauce Hot Pot) – A Heartfelt Folk Song
The origin of this dish comes from the Can Tho region, where the best fish sauces are produced. Mắm hot pot is usually made from pork bones or fresh coconut, which forms the foundation for its sweet and unique flavor. The fish sauce is then diluted and blended with broth, creating a distinctive and concentrated taste. Mắm hot pot is combined with a variety of diverse ingredients such as pork belly, basa fish, tra fish, shrimp, krill, and various types of leafy greens – anything you can “hunt and gather” – creating a rich and flavorful meal. Mắm hot pot is always the top choice for people in the South to welcome guests from afar. It is not only unique in its intriguing and distinctive taste but also in the bubbling hot pot and the subtle, earthy colors of the river region.
With Bánh Xèo and Lẩu Mắm, Southern cuisine is not only a harmonious blend of flavors but also a delicate combination of yin and yang, becoming an integral part of Vietnamese culture and cuisine.
