Hunting wild mice for delicious dishes in Western Nghe An

(Baonghean.vn)- Every summer, after finishing sowing the crop, many people in the Western Nghe An region prepare tools and "weapons" to hunt wild rats. When caught and processed, this rodent becomes an irresistible delicacy.

On a summer day, we arrived at Bao Nam commune (Ky Son district). It was only nearly 7 pm but we could already hear the boys calling each other. Each one held a crossbow and a bamboo tube full of arrows. When asked, we learned that they had taken advantage of the summer day to go to the forest to shoot rats.

Khmu children prepare for a trip to hunt wild rats.

The boy in Nam Tien village told us that this season there are a lot of wild rats, sometimes the rice that has just been sown is already eaten by rats. “You don’t know, at the same time last year, when the bamboo flowers bloomed, there were countless rats, they ate all the rice in our village. Every night, our people lie down in the fields to watch for rats. Sometimes we can’t shoot enough, each child can catch 40-50 rats in one night” - The boy’s father standing nearby added.

The mice were hunted with crossbows.

However, there are times when wild rats become "rare", especially in the cold season. Because they live in high mountain forests, in rocky crevices, dense bushes, deep underground caves..., hunting is not easy. Unlike field rats, wild rats are quite large, some reaching a weight of 300 - 500g. Because they eat leaves, wild fruits, corn and rice,... they are considered clean food by people.

Every night a child can hunt dozens of wood mice and squirrels.

When wild rats are hunted, people use straw or dry cogon grass to burn them until golden brown, then cut open their bellies to remove all the internal organs, cut off their heads, tails, and legs. After that, they are washed, drained, and then put 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 case of important guests coming to visit. The highlanders believe that only important guests are allowed to have wild rat meat served.

The wild mice were "strung" up in the kitchen attic.

According to Mr. Moong Pho Hoan in Cha Ca 1 village (Bao Thang commune), wild rats can be made into many dishes such as stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, grilled, boiled... but the delicious dish that the Khmu and Thai people love is still nam nhooc. Just go to the garden to find some wild eggplant, some green squash leaves, elephant ear, wild banana flowers to cook. Wild rat meat is washed and minced. Vegetables are brought back and chopped. Spices, in addition to "mac khen", lemongrass, chili, there are also coriander, onions. So the ingredients for the dish "nhooc" are done.

Only when there are important guests, will the wild mouse be brought out to entertain the host.

At this point, just cook the fire evenly. “Nhoc” is also a sophisticated dish. The longer it is cooked, the more flavorful it becomes. After about 2 hours of cooking, the pot of nam nhooc is taken down and stirred back and forth so that the vegetables and meat melt together like a soup or porridge.

Nam Nhooc - delicious dish from wild mice.

Indeed, the fragrant smell of the dish makes diners hard to resist. The aroma of rat meat mixed with wild vegetables makes people standing nearby want to rush in and eat while the dish is still steaming. Mr. Moong Pho Hoan added the secret: "This dish must be eaten hot and with a lot of chili to be rich."

Dao Tho