Grilled mackerel specialty of Nghe An during Tet season

Quang An• January 19, 2021 11:19

(Baonghean.vn) - Grilled mackerel is not only a delicious and nutritious specialty of Nghe An but also a very popular Tet gift. Currently, grilled mackerel processing households in Cua Lo are actively producing to supply the approaching Tet market.

In the last days of the year, despite the cold weather, fishing ports in Cua Lo town such as Nghi Thuy and Cua Hoi are always bustling when boats return to port. Among them, fresh mackerel is favored and sought after by many small traders and households, especially during Tet because this is a specialty caught in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fishing grounds. Photo: Quang An

Ms. Trang, a household producing grilled mackerel in Nghi Hai ward, Cua Lo town, said: In the steps of making grilled mackerel, choosing the ingredients is very important. Fresh mackerel caught in the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fishing grounds with a weight of 2kg or more will look beautiful when cut into pieces. Photo: Quang An

After being imported, the mackerel is cleaned and cut into pieces 2cm thick and weighing 250 - 350 grams. Afterremove fins, head, tail, intestines will be brought out to dry because the legs are leftDrain, the fish after grilling will be sweeter and chewier. Photo: Quang An

Ms. Nom, one of the long-time grilled mackerel producers in Cua Lo town, shared: "During the time near Tet, due to high demand, my family grilled nearly 400 kg of fish every day to supply the market in and outside the province... This year, due to difficulties in sea trips due to the weather, the amount of imported fish has decreased somewhat, and the hiring of workers is also limited, mainly done by family members." Photo: Quang An

It is also important to light the charcoal to grill the fish because if the fire is too high, the fish will burn, but if the fire is too low, the fish will not be cooked to the best taste. Photo: Quang An

According to the workers, to have a delicious batch of grilled mackerel, you need to monitor the coal temperature and turn the fish constantly so that it cooks evenly. That is the reason why the fish grilling job is mostly done by women because it requires meticulousness and dexterity. Photo: Quang An

Grilled fish, when cooked, will turn golden brown and smell delicious. The glowing red charcoal stoves are both eye-catching and help dispel the winter cold, making everyone excited. Photo: Quang An

After being grilled, the mackerel is taken to a cool place, cooled with a fan, and then placed on a tray. If the fish is placed while it is hot, it will break because the hot fish is very soft. Photo: Quang An

Sau khi hoàn thiện các bước, cá thu nướng sẽ được đóng gói, mang đi hút chân không và cho vào các thùng để mang đi tiêu thụ hoặc bảo quản. Hiện giá cá thu nướng đang dao động ở mức 230.000 - 240.000 đồng/kg và sẽ có thể tăng lên trong những ngày giáp Tết. Ảnh: Quang An

After completing the steps, the grilled mackerel will be packaged, vacuum-sealed and supplied to the market. Currently, the price of grilled mackerel is fluctuating at 230,000 - 240,000 VND/kg and may increase in the days before Tet. Photo: Quang An