Unique secret of grilled mackerel village in Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn) - To have fresh and delicious mackerel, the fisherman in Cua Lo Town (Nghe An) all have their own secret.

Having been grilling mackerel for nearly 30 years, Ms. Tran Thi Lien in Block 8, Nghi Thuy Ward, Cua Lo Town cannot remember exactly how many fish she has grilled; she only knows that on average she grills about 1.2 quintals of mackerel each day.

Sharing about her career, Ms. Lien said: “I learned from my parents when I was young and have maintained it until now. This profession has helped me develop my economy, support my elderly mother and three grown children.”

The mackerel pieces are cut into pieces and soaked in clean water before grilling. Photo: Tran Vu

According to Ms. Lien, to have quality mackerel, the first requirement is to choose fresh fish. To buy fresh fish, the fisherman must go to the wharf early in the morning; a qualified mackerel has bright eyes and white skin. If the fish is spoiled, the meat will be loose when grilled and will not have a fragrant smell.

"After purchasing, the mackerel is washed, cut into diagonal pieces of the right size, then soaked in clean water; soaking about 5-6 times, until the water in the basin is white and clear, then it meets the requirements. Especially during the process of soaking and washing the fish, the worker has to use a small toothpick to remove the red blood vessels in the fish body. This helps the fish to look more beautiful after grilling" - Ms. Thu shared her experience.

In addition to the above mandatory steps, to prevent the fish from burning or rusting, the fish grillers in Cua Lo have their own secret. Before grilling, they will wrap a layer of fresh, washed banana leaves around the iron bars. These iron bars will then be neatly arranged on a red-hot charcoal stove. The fish grillers just need to arrange the fish pieces on top and turn them evenly.

Iron bars wrapped in fresh banana leaves before being placed on a charcoal stove to grill fish are considered a unique secret of the locals here. Photo: Tran Vu

During the process, pay attention to the iron bar wrapped in banana leaves. If the banana leaves burn out, replace them with another one. This way, the fish will have its own aroma and be hygienic. After grilling, let the fish cool completely and then wrap it in a clean layer of paper.

Currently, Cua Lo mackerel is taken by traders to markets inside and outside the province; delicious pieces of fish are also exported to Laos according to orders from regular customers.

In recent years, grilled mackerel from Cua Lo has become a specialty for many tourists. Therefore, fish grilling households have become more “professional” in the way they grill and serve tourists. Especially recently, the recognition of the collective trademark “grilled mackerel from Cua Lo” has helped this coastal specialty brand become known to many people.

Cua Lo mackerel has a brand name. Photo: Quang An

Like Lien’s family, her husband died before her youngest child was born, so she had to work hard to support the family. Thanks to the traditional fish grilling profession, she has been able to make ends meet and send her children to school. The fish grilling profession is quite hard work, requiring staying up late, waking up early, and always being by the blazing charcoal stove. However, for many households, this is a profession that helps them develop their economy.

Or like Ms. Hong in Nghi Thuy ward, thanks to the fish grilling job, she and her husband have successfully raised three children. "Our parents spend all year sitting next to hot, dusty charcoal stoves, so we try to raise our children to be successful and have a more comfortable life," Ms. Hong said.

Cua Lo has built a brand for grilled mackerel and the product is carefully packaged. Photo: QA

Mr. Nguyen Van Hue, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghi Thuy Ward, said: Currently, there are nearly 100 households in the locality engaged in the fish grilling business. Among them, many households mainly grill mackerel to serve tourists. This is a profession that helps many households here become well-off.