The cuisine of Coconut Land: shark minnow with coconut shreds

29/08/2023 1524 1
Nhắc đến Bến Tre, hầu hết mọi người đều biết đến với hai từ thân thương “Xứ Dừa” hay đặc sản kẹo dừa vô cùng nổi tiếng. Với sự tinh tế và khéo léo trong ẩm thực, người dân Bến Tre chế biến hàng trăm món ăn đặc sắc từ dừa và dừa đã trở thành nguyên liệu gần như không thể thiếu trong ẩm thực Bến Tre. Đặc biệt, tỉnh Bến Tre đã xác lập kỷ lục Thế giới 222 món từ dừa, trong đó “Bánh cá lòng tong - dừa sợi” là một trong những món ăn dân dã nằm trong 222 món ăn đã xác lập kỷ lục Thế giới nhân kỷ niệm 200 năm ngày sinh Danh nhân Nguyễn Đình Chiểu năm 2022.

Returning to our hometown of Ben Tre in particular or the West in general, we will see images of children sitting and fishing for shark minnow, nets being raised, boats casting nets or rows of bottoms far offshore... Shark minnow is caught quite easily in many forms; shark minnow is small and reproduces quickly in the wild, but this type of fish cannot be raised and its lifespan is quite short, so this is a purely natural fish, good for health. The dish "shark minnow cake - coconut shreds is simply prepared by Ben Tre people but has an extremely skillful combination of shark minnow, rice flour and tanned coconut shreds (coconut is just dry, not too dry to keep sweet, fatty and does not smell of oil).

Photo: Shark minnow (collected)

In Ben Tre, visitors can savor the rustic and incredibly enticing dish “shark minnow cake - coconut shreds” prepared by locals using fresh ingredients. Shark minnows are cleaned, drained, and marinated with a bit of seasoning; the grated coconut is finely shredded; and the rice flour is ground to a smooth consistency. These three ingredients are mixed together and fried until golden and crispy. The dish is served on a plate and eaten with wild vegetables and sweet and sour fish sauce. Break off a piece of the golden “fish cake,” wrap it with wild vegetables, dip it into the sweet and sour fish sauce, and take a bite. The crispy texture of the cake, the richness of shark minnow combined with the coconut shreds, and the sweet, sour, and spicy flavors of the dipping sauce, along with the fragrance of the cake and the wild vegetables, will allow diners to experience the dish with all their senses. This sensation will leave a lasting impression on visitors, making it unforgettable.

Photo: Shark minnow with coconut shreds(collected)​​​​​​​

Many people think that children and foreigners cannot enjoy this dish because the fish is small and has bones. However, with this method of preparation, the "lòng tong" fish becomes crispy and completely boneless, making it enjoyable for both adults and children, as well as foreigners. To savor and appreciate the natural sweetness and deliciousness of the "lòng tong" fish and wild vegetables, visitors can come to Ba Tri, especially to Hai Van Farm - Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary.

Minh Chuong

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