Lien Thanh snakehead fish - An irresistible delicacy

(Baonghean) - Yen Thanh not only attracts tourists from near and far with its unique scenic spots such as Gam Pagoda, Bao Lam Pagoda, Duc Hoang Temple, Bao Nham church and rock formations... but is also known as a land with many rustic dishes, especially Lien Thanh snakehead fish.

Anyone who has ever set foot in Lien Thanh will have the opportunity to enjoy dishes made from snakehead fish such as: grilled snakehead fish, braised snakehead fish, snakehead fish balls, snakehead fish sour soup... all incredibly delicious. This is a characteristic dish of Lien Thanh in particular and Yen Thanh rice-growing district in general. According to the elders in the village: In the past, snakehead fish was a dish offered to ancestors, served to honored guests, and given as gifts to friends and relatives during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). Nowadays, snakehead fish is prepared in daily family meals and has expanded to restaurants serving tourists from near and far...

In the past, the people of Lien Thanh mainly caught snakehead fish to sell. Especially every year from September and October, every household would prepare snakehead fish for Tet (Lunar New Year). The fish were washed clean, marinated in salt for about 30 minutes, boiled until fragrant and cooked through, then drained in a basket to dry and hung on a kitchen rack. A week later, they would take the fish down and boil it again. Just before Tet, they would add fish sauce, salt, sugar, and molasses to stew it until dry, using it for Tet offerings and to serve to relatives and friends. Lien Thanh snakehead fish is at its best from April to September because this is the period when rice stalks fall, food is abundant, and the fish meat is fragrant and fatty.

Lien Thanh snakehead fish weigh about 0.7 kg to 1 kg each because they are caught by hook and line, not farmed. Ms. Nguyen Tu Uyen, the owner of a restaurant in Cau Thong hamlet, Lien Thanh, said: "Previously, my family's restaurant only dared to stock small quantities to regular customers who ordered in advance. But for the past five years, customers have only ordered snakehead fish. To meet customer demand, I have prepared many different dishes, but I still maintain the unique flavor of the fish."

In Lien Thanh during the hot days, the intense heat of the lunch restaurants still attracts a large number of diners. Currently, there are three restaurants in Lien Thanh specializing in snakehead fish, with a rustic service style that attracts many tourists. Mr. Nguyen Van Nam - from Dien Chau - said: "Here, I like the grilled snakehead fish the most. The fish weighs around 1kg, is cleaned, and grilled over hot charcoal, the aroma fills the entire restaurant."

The golden-brown fish balls are a tempting dish.

Grilled snakehead fish served with aromatic herbs like fig leaves and mung bean sprouts, dipped in rich, golden Quỳnh Lưu fish sauce, is simply irresistible. Besides that, braised snakehead fish and snakehead fish balls are popular choices among tourists. The chef takes the head and tail of fresh snakehead fish, finely chops it (by hand, not grind, as finely ground fish wouldn't taste as good), then mixes it with a little pork belly, finely chopped lime leaves, shallots, fresh turmeric, seasoned with MSG, soup powder, and good quality fish sauce. After marinating for about 15 minutes, the mixture is formed into small balls. These fish balls aren't fried; instead, they're sautéed with fragrant shallots, then seasoned with good quality fish sauce and cold water. The fish balls are boiled for about 10 minutes, resulting in a delicious dish to enjoy with rice.

In addition, sour fish soup is also a popular choice among tourists. Lien Thanh's sour fish soup is appealing not only because of its rich golden color from fresh turmeric, green starfruit, shallots, and spices, combined with delicious pieces of fish, but also because of the elaborate preparation method of the restaurant owner. The fish is washed with white salt, then marinated with spices for about 15 minutes; fragrant shallots are sautéed in oil before the fish is added and stirred until each piece is firm. The owner quickly cuts slices of sour starfruit and finely grinds fresh turmeric, then mixes them in.

On hot days, there's nothing better than enjoying a bowl of sour snakehead fish soup. Many tourists who come here to enjoy dishes made from snakehead fish don't forget to buy some to take home for their family and relatives because the fish here is not only delicious but also reasonably priced. A grilled snakehead fish weighing nearly 1kg costs less than 100,000 VND, and a large plate of braised snakehead fish costs 60,000 VND...

From the local snakehead fish, the people here have created many rustic dishes such as grilled, braised, steamed, and sour soup... But the delicious flavor of the dishes has captivated countless tourists, making them want to return again and again...

Thu Huong