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Bến Tre is renowned for its lush coconut groves, exciting recreational spots, and, most notably, its unforgettable culinary treasures that feature a diverse and enticing array of dishes.
12 Culinary Delights from Bến Tre That Mesmerize Food Enthusiasts
1. Bến Tre Coconut Rice
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Bến Tre Coconut Rice is a captivating local specialty that charms diners far and wide. A seemingly simple dish, but its preparation is a complex process. To ensure the rice is deliciously sweet with a hint of coconut aroma, choosing sweet coconut water is crucial. Enjoying coconut rice without spicy chili sauce enhances its delectable taste.
2. Phú Đa Coconut Snail Rice Pancake
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Cồn Phú Đa is a small islet located in Vĩnh Bình commune, Chợ Lách district, Bến Tre province. Locally known as 'cù lao ốc' or 'cồn ốc gạo,' this islet earned its name due to the abundance of a natural rice snail known for its large size, crisp texture, and delightful sweetness, surpassing other rice snails found elsewhere. When visiting, travelers should savor dishes prepared with rice snails, especially the exquisite rice snail crispy pancakes. The filling of these pancakes is crafted from rice snails, and the crispy crust adds a delightful crunch. The pancake spread includes various wild vegetables, creating an aesthetically pleasing presentation with a tantalizing dipping sauce.
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To complement these savory pancakes, you can prepare a fragrant dipping sauce with a balanced sweet and sour taste, accompanied by finely shredded crunchy carrots. It's essential to include wild vegetables when enjoying these pancakes, so prepare an assortment of fresh greens to accompany this delectable dish.
3. Ribbon-cut Noodle Soup
Illustrative photo: @annie_vnkitchen.
Ribbon-cut noodle soup has long been the culinary trademark of Bến Tre. Its name stems from the preparation process where the noodle dough is rolled thin and then cut into small strands, perfectly sized for consumption. These strands are then boiled in simmering water until cooked. While there are various versions of ribbon-cut noodle soup, the most popular is enjoyed with pork hock. The broth for this type of noodle soup is primarily crafted from bones, pork hock, mushrooms, and turnips. The combination of the elastic and smooth ribbon-cut noodles, flavorful broth, and a crispy piece of pork hock dipped in fish sauce creates a memorable experience for anyone who has ever tried it.
Illustrative photo: @annie_vnkitchen.
4. Coconut Bud Salad with Shrimp and Meat
Coconut bud salad is a local delicacy often served to guests. The coconut bud is the upper part of the coconut tree, nestled deep within the trunk, comprising the yet-to-sprout shoots and the leaf stem. Therefore, preparing coconut bud salad involves felling a coconut tree to obtain the tender white portion from the trunk.
Illustrative photo: @tiktok_ymin.
Coconut bud salad offers a delightful balance of sweet and sour flavors, with a crisp, fragrant, and refreshing texture, and it's low in fat. Ingredients for this dish include peeled baby shrimp, thinly sliced pork belly, thinly sliced pork tenderloin, cilantro, onions, and crispy roasted peanuts. After finely shredding the coconut bud into long strands and mixing it with the other ingredients, spices and sugar are added to create an enticing salad. Enjoy it with a dipping sauce of sweet and sour fish sauce and crispy prawn crackers.
Illustrative photo: @khanhnguyen_64.
5. Braised Silver Perch in Coconut Water
Bến Tre's Silver Perch is delicious, firm, with a fragrant aroma and rich taste. The ingredients for braised silver perch in coconut water include silver perch, coconut water, fragrant coconut meat, scallions, garlic, seasoning powder, and the cooking vessel must be a clay pot to bring out the special flavor. This dish is even more delightful when paired with steaming hot white rice, water spinach, water lily, and dragon beans, served with a fish sauce dip. Its rustic and robust flavor always leaves a lasting impression on diners.
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6. Sour Soup with Snakehead Fish and Elephant Ear Stem
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Sour soup with snakehead fish and elephant ear stem is a favorite among many diners visiting Bến Tre. During the flooding season, snakehead fish and freshly bloomed elephant ear stems are abundant. Locals enthusiastically catch snakehead fish and harvest elephant ear stems to make the sour soup. The plump and tender meat of the snakehead fish, combined with the slightly bitter yet sweet taste of the elephant ear stems, creates a delightful dish. The ingredients for this sour soup are simple, including snakehead fish, elephant ear stems, tamarind, scallions, spices, seasoning powder, and chili. Enjoying this soup with white rice and pure fish sauce enhances the overall experience. A bowl of hot and sour snakehead fish soup, a spoonful of broth, and you can already savor the sweetness of the fish and the fragrant aroma of the elephant ear stems.
7. Wax Coconut
Illustrative photo: @lamle3633.
Wax coconut originates from Trà Vinh but is widely propagated and grown in various provinces of Bến Tre. The largest wax coconut plantation in Bến Tre is located along Đồng Văn Cống Street, Giồng Trôm district. Known for its delightful fragrance and smooth richness, wax coconuts can be processed into various enticing beverages. Enjoying a glass of refreshing wax coconut with a hint of milk, peanuts, and freshly grated coconut under the midday sun is truly a splendid experience.
Illustrative photo: @lamle3633.
8. Crushed Banana in Coconut Cream
Among the specialties of Bến Tre, you cannot miss the captivating dish known as crushed banana in coconut cream. This dish masterfully combines two renowned local ingredients: coconut and banana. Named 'crushed banana' because the flat bananas need to be pounded to create the dish. The key to making this delicious dish is using unripe bananas, about 3-4 days away from ripening. The essential element that makes this dish outstanding is the coconut cream drizzled on top. The coconut cream is seasoned with sugar, salt, and a bit of fresh green shallot to add a fragrant aroma. The warm, chewy, sweet banana paired with the rich, sweet, and slightly salty coconut cream creates an addictive experience for diners.
9. Bến Tre Coconut Candy
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Bến Tre is renowned as the land of coconuts, making Bến Tre Coconut Candy a familiar treat for both locals and visitors alike. The candy comes in various flavors, including coconut jelly with coconut cream, coconut jelly with peanuts, coconut jelly with durian and peanuts, coconut jelly with durian, coconut jelly with cocoa, coconut jelly with durian and cocoa, coconut jelly with pandan leaves, and coconut jelly with taro. Bến Tre Coconut Candy has become a unique hometown gift to introduce to friends nationally and internationally. If you ever visit Bến Tre, don't forget to try this local specialty!
10. Son Doc Rice Cracker
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Son Doc Rice Cracker from Bến Tre is redolent with the aroma of glutinous rice flour and wheat flour combined with the luscious, sweet simplicity of coconut. This snack is a common indulgence for many locals in Bến Tre; the mere scent of it from a distance is enough to make it irresistible. The best way to savor this rice cracker is with a cup of tea. While the outward appearance may not be particularly striking, it's only when you bite into it that you can truly appreciate the distinctive delicious fragrance of this treat. If you ever visit Bến Tre, make sure to stop by the Son Doc Rice Cracker village (Hung Nhuong commune, Giồng Trôm district) to witness the meticulous process of crafting these delectable rice crackers, enjoy them on the spot, or purchase them as gifts for loved ones and friends.
11. Coconut Mouse
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Coconut mouse has richer meat compared to field mice, and their weight is approximately the same. Coconut mice are often found living in trees. After hunting coconut mice, they are usually prepared into various dishes or snacks. The cooking method for coconut mice is similar to that of field mice. However, for the people of Bến Tre, the best way to enjoy them is by placing banana leaves on cooked rice, placing the cleaned coconut mice on top, and covering the pot. When the rice is boiling for the final time, uncover the pot, and the mouse meat, now cooked and fragrant, is ready to be enjoyed. At this point, shred the meat, mix it with white rice, cilantro, and salted chili.
12. Giồng Luong Coconut Cake
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Giồng Luong Coconut Cake, with its layers of pale yellow leaves peeling away, exudes the fragrant chewiness of glutinous rice, the richness of coconut milk, and the sweet essence from beans or the delightful banana flavor inside. The meticulous process, from ingredient selection to wrapping and steaming the cake, reflects the craftsmanship involved. Thus, when savoring it, you not only experience the delicious taste of the cake but also feel the warm-hearted dedication of the bakers. If you have the opportunity to visit Bến Tre, don't forget to purchase this renowned Giồng Luong Coconut Cake as a gift for your loved ones and friends!
Photo: Thanh Niên Newspaper.
Posted by: Duong Nguyen
Keywords: 12 Bến Tre Specialty Dishes That Excite Diners
