Ram mướt xứ Nghệ

(Baonghean) - Ram mướt is a combination of two dishes that Northerners call bánh cuốn (steamed rice rolls) and nem rán (fried spring rolls), only it embodies the unique characteristics and culinary habits of Nghe An province. Ram mướt is a simple and familiar breakfast dish of Nghe An; a rustic yet refined treat, just like the people of this region, and a very common breakfast that you can find on any street in Nghe An, but finding a good and authentic place to eat it is not easy.

Ram is another name for fried spring rolls, a famous dish that contributes to the flavor of Vietnamese cuisine. But eating ram in Nghe An province will give you a truly different taste. Banh muot is another name for steamed rice rolls or wet rice rolls. Banh muot is simply dipped in fish sauce; it's usually served with pork sausage, or more elaborately with chicken stew and banh muot. People in the North often wrap banh muot with meat filling and use plenty of oil when frying, but people in Central Vietnam prefer banh muot plain, so diners will experience a cool, refreshing, and light flavor.

Illustrative image - Internet

Ram mướt is a harmonious blend of two different types of rice cakes, both simple and refined, with a crispy yet chewy texture, rich but not greasy. Although the preparation methods differ, both types of cakes are made from glutinous rice, which is delicious, white, and sticky. The rice is ground into flour, mixed with salt, warm water is added, and the mixture is kneaded until firm and smooth. A skilled baker must know how to use just the right amount of flour so that the cakes are thin but chewy when steamed.

The spring rolls served with rice noodles are usually very neatly rolled, about the size of two fingers. The ingredients for the spring rolls are simple and easy to find, including rice vermicelli, wood ear mushrooms, minced lean meat, a little egg, and spices; there are no vegetables, and they are wrapped in a very special type of rice paper to ensure crispness.

Spring rolls (Ram mướt) can be a simple breakfast dish, a comforting snack that can fill you up without getting bored, suitable for all four seasons. In winter, eating hot, crispy spring rolls wrapped in a thin layer of rice paper with a bowl of dipping sauce rich in garlic and chili helps to ward off the cold. In summer, eating spring rolls with sweet and sour fish sauce, sipped on a glass of iced tea, feels truly refreshing.

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