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Tet, the traditional Lunar New Year, is a beautiful cultural aspect of Vietnamese people. Traditional Tet dishes carry a unique beauty that everyone who goes far away always remembers the familiar taste of these enticing dishes when Tet comes
Traditional Tet dishes (Photo by ST)
Delicious traditional Tet dishes
When it comes to traditional Vietnamese dishes during the Lunar New Year, no matter where you are in the S-shaped country, you will always find a feast with the appearance of famous dishes: square sticky rice cake, Vietnamese pork sausage, sticky rice,... that you can never get tired of.
1. Square sticky rice cake
Considered a dish with a long history in our culinary culture, this is a traditional Tet dish that you cannot miss. Square sticky rice cake symbolizes the earth and was created by Lang Liêu, the son of the 16th Hung King, to express gratitude to his ancestors and the land.
Square sticky rice cake (Photo by ST)
The cake is made from sticky rice but inside, there will be a filling of green beans, pork that is wrapped very square inside the dong leaves and then cooked. The cake is a symbol of the rice culture, so you will be delighted to enjoy the delicious flavor of this cake.
2. Vietnamese pork sausage
Vietnamese pork sausage (Photo by ST)
It can be said that Vietnamese pork sausage is a common but very diverse dish that no matter where you go across the country, you will have the opportunity to enjoy this dish. This is a traditional Tet dish of the Vietnamese people that everyone loves. Traditional pork sausage will be made from 3 ingredients: finely ground pork shoulder, good fish sauce mixed evenly and then wrapped in banana leaves and cooked, creating a delicious dish that no one can forget the flavor of.
3. Sticky rice
When it comes to traditional Tet dishes, you cannot miss sticky rice, which has been closely associated with Vietnamese people for many years. This is a common dish in the life of the rice culture. Ingredients to make sticky rice: rice, peanuts, peas,... will be steamed or cooked after they are ripe, creating a delicious flavor.
Sticky rice (Photo by ST)
Usually, sticky rice is eaten hot, with sticky and fragrant cooked rice, not mushy. On Tet days, people often use red sticky rice to bring luck and prosperity to the whole family.
4. Boiled chicken
Boiled chicken dish (Photo by ST)
Not at all fancy, but boiled chicken is considered a traditional Tet dish that Vietnamese people highly prefer and use in parties, whether small or large. On Tet days, a whole boiled rooster will be an indispensable dish on the Tet offering table of our people. You will surely love the sweet aroma of the boiled chicken meat when cooked.
5. Fried spring rolls
If you want to fully explore traditional Tet dishes, the crispy and fragrant fried spring rolls, dipped in pre-prepared fish sauce with a sweet and sour taste, are loved by everyone.
Fried spring rolls (Photo by ST)
You only need: finely ground pork, jicama, glass noodles, chicken eggs, wood ear mushrooms,... mix well and season with a little spices, then roll with rice paper and fry until golden brown to create fragrant fried spring rolls. Looking at the golden brown spring rolls, served with some raw vegetables and dipped in garlic chili fish sauce, everyone will love its flavor.
Some traditional Tet dishes in the North.
In addition to the indispensable dishes, people in the North also love dishes such as pickled onions, cinnamon beef stew, jellied meat,... which are essential in the Tet meals of people in the North.
6. Pickled onions
Just one taste of pickled onions and you will love its sour and crunchy taste. You just need to choose mature onions, cut off the tails to take the bulbs and remember to keep the roots. Then soak the onions in a mixture of water with a little alum for about 2 days, then remove and cut off all the roots, peel leaving about 5cm and put them in a bowl to add salt or a thin layer of thinly sliced sugar cane on top.
Tet dish pickled onions (Photo by ST)
Finally, use a bamboo tray to press down. After about 2 weeks, you can take out the onions and cook them with vinegar and sugar to eat. This traditional Tet dish of the people in the North, you cannot miss this dish.
7. Jellied meat
This is a unique dish of the Northern people that everyone loves. In cold weather, jellied meat becomes much more delicious. You just need to use pork belly or add some chicken and a little pork skin, then cook until tender.
Jellied meat dish (Photo by ST)
After cooking, place the pot of meat outside to cover it tightly for it to set. On the surface of the pot is a layer of fat as white as snow, with an added delicious golden color. Eating jellied meat with pickled onions is wonderful. This is a traditional Tet dish that you will love.
Some traditional Tet dishes of the Central people
If you are in the Central region during Tet, you should try the enticing dishes such as dried bamboo shoots, fermented pork,... which will help you understand more about the cuisine of the people here.
8. Dried bamboo shoots
During Tet, if you get to try dried bamboo shoots, it's wonderful. Just soak the dried bamboo shoots in water for about 2 days, then boil them well and remember to drain the water several times for best results.
Dried bamboo shoots (Photo ST)
When the bamboo shoots are soft, tear them into small pieces and marinate with spices including: sugar, pepper, garlic, salt, MSG, and add a little five-spice powder for a better aroma. Use pork, such as pork butt or fatty leg, clean and cut into small pieces, then fry until golden. Put all the ingredients in a pot and simmer until soft, then it will be a traditional Tet dish that everyone loves.
9. Fermented pork
Fermented pork (Photo ST)
In the Central region, you will enjoy tré, a rustic dish that attracts tourists with its delicious taste. Tré is made from fully cooked ingredients. After boiling the pork head until cooked, drain the water, and fry the pork belly until golden. The combination of delicious meats, the crunchiness of pork head, and flavors like garlic, toasted rice powder, galangal, and guava leaves create a traditional Tet dish with the distinctive flavor of the Central region. You will definitely love enjoying tré during the Tet holiday in the Central region.
Traditional Tet dishes in the South
10. Bánh tét
Bánh tét (Photo ST)
During Tet in the South, you cannot miss bánh tét, a favorite dish of the locals. Bánh tét comes in various flavors and colors. Each type of bánh is made with different combinations of ingredients and shapes to create its own unique appeal. You can enjoy bánh tét with the outer layer made of sticky rice mixed with grated coconut, magenta leaves, black beans, and more, creating a very distinctive appearance. This is a traditional Tet dish of the people in the South that everyone loves.
11. Caramelized pork with eggs in coconut water
Caramelized pork with eggs in coconut water (Photo ST)
When it comes to Tet meals in the South, caramelized pork with eggs in coconut water is also a favorite. This dish is a combination of pork belly with its rich flavor, combined with golden-fried eggs and fragrant coconut water, creating a traditional Tet dish with the distinctive flavor of the South. The pot of meat with its golden color is the characteristic feature of this dish that many people love.
12. Pickled scallions with dried shrimp
Pickled scallions with dried shrimp (Photo ST)
In the South, pickled scallions with dried shrimp is considered a must-have dish on the Tet table. If you have the chance to enjoy this dish on Tet with the sweet and sour flavor of pickled scallions combined with dried shrimp, the more you eat, the more flavorful it becomes, it's truly wonderful. Eating this dish with bánh tét is also very delicious. That's why this is a traditional Tet dish that you cannot miss in the South.
