4 'horrifying' specialties that only honored guests can eat in the highlands of Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - Exploring the culture of ethnic groups in the highlands of Nghe An always brings you interesting surprises. If you have the guts, try the following special but also very "horrifying" dishes.

1. Stream tadpoles

February (lunar calendar) is the time when tadpoles breed. Each one is as big as a fat fingertip. To catch tadpoles, people have to go to the stream in the evening and turn over each stone to scoop them up.

The tadpoles are brought back and their intestines are cleaned with a thin bamboo stick. The tadpoles are mixed with lemongrass, chili, mac khen (wild pepper), fish sauce, salt and crushed broken rice. When all the steps are finished, everything is sealed in a bamboo tube and placed on a charcoal stove to make lam (lam dish).

Tadpoles are cleaned and marinated elaborately to make lam dish. Photo: Dao Tho.

The cooked tadpoles have a very pleasant aroma. The flavor of lemongrass and mac khen mixed with the aroma of sticky rice and the smell of charcoal from the fire makes diners want to immediately dive into the tray.

Because tadpoles breed and hatch in a certain period, hunting them for sale is also very difficult. The current selling price in the highland markets is 150,000 VND/kg but must be ordered in advance.

2. Wood mouse

February (lunar calendar) is the time of crop failure, mice only eat wild fruits so they are very delicious.

This is also the time when wild mice are "valuable", sometimes up to 100,000 VND/mice. Unlike field mice, wild mice are quite large, some reaching a weight of 300 - 500 grams. Because they eat leaves, forest fruits, corn, rice, etc., they are considered clean food by people.

Grilled wild mouse. Photo: Dao Tho.

When wild rats are hunted, people burn them with straw or dry cogon grass until golden brown, then cut open their bellies to remove all the internal organs, cut off their heads, tails, and legs. Then wash them thoroughly, drain them, and put them on the stove to dry.

In the kitchens of the Khmu, Thai or Mong people in Ky Son, there are a few wild rats “strung” up in the room when distinguished guests come to visit. The highlanders believe that only distinguished guests are allowed to serve wild rat meat.

Wild rats can be made into many dishes such as stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, grilled, boiled... but the favorite dish of the Khmu and Thai people is still nam nhooc. This is a rat soup cooked with eggplant, wild vegetable leaves, and highland spices, cooked until soft and smooth.

3. Water title

The water worm that lives in streams has a rather scary shape. But if you have tasted this dish, you will find it very interesting. In the highlands of Nghe An, people call it "can to".

Water centipedes are related to centipedes but are smaller. If you get bitten by one, you will feel temporary pain and numbness.

This season, water mimosa is being sold for 150,000 VND/kg but is also very rare. The preparation is very simple, just wash and dry roast with pickled bamboo shoots. Water mimosa has a crispy, rich and fatty taste.

Headline. Photo: Dao Tho.

4. Cicada

Cicadas usually appear in early March (lunar calendar). Cicadas are usually hunted at night, because this is the easiest time to catch them when they lie still in the forests of the cypress trees in Xiangyang.

The hunter just needs to hold a large stone and hit the trees with many cicadas to make them fall. It is dark so hundreds of cicadas look for a place with light to rush in. The bright flashlights are very effective at this time.

Cicadas are processed by roasting or chopping into spring rolls. After processing, cicadas have a fragrant smell and taste fatty and crispy.

Cicadas can be prepared in many dishes, the most popular of which is stir-fried. Photo: Dao Tho.

At the beginning of the season, the most popular type of cicadas is the newly molted, fat cicadas. This type is delicious, nutritious and clean, so the price is sometimes sky-high, up to 150,000 VND/kg.

Dao Tho