Crafting Delicious 'Thang' Vermicelli Easily – Mytour

'Thang' vermicelli is one of the distinctive delicacies of Hanoi cuisine. Despite being a seemingly simple noodle dish, its preparation is a meticulous process involving a variety of ingredients. Hence, it has long been hailed as a sophisticated dish, showcasing the elegance of Hanoians. Here, Mytour unveils the secrets to making 'Thang' vermicelli deliciously simple, ensuring a 100% success rate! 

1. What Makes 'Thang' Vermicelli Special?

It's no coincidence that 'Thang' vermicelli is considered an intricate dish. To prepare it in the traditional flavor, you need to gather a multitude of different ingredients such as eggs, chicken, shiitake mushrooms, pork sausage, salted radish, shrimp, onions, coriander, and shrimp paste.

Image: @delightfulplate.com

Perhaps due to the intricacy in the preparation process and meticulous ingredient selection, 'Thang' vermicelli is not only delicious but also visually appealing. The dish harmoniously combines various colors, such as the green of cilantro and spring onions, the yellow of quail eggs, the white of pork sausage and chicken, along with the brown of shiitake mushrooms. The broth, sweet from chicken bones and enriched with baby shrimp, can be enhanced with a touch of shrimp paste for a more robust flavor.

2. Essential Ingredients to Prepare

According to the 'Thang' vermicelli-making tips from experienced owners, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken
• 500g pork marrow bones
• 10 – 15 dried shiitake mushrooms
• 50g dried shrimp
• 1 piece of ginger
• 1 onion
• 3-4 dried shallots
• 3 eggs
• 100g sea cucumber (or dried squid ink)
• 200g pork sausage
• Various spices: salt, fish sauce, pepper, seasoning powder, vinegar, etc.
• Shrimp paste
• Spring onions and cilantro, basil leaves
• 1kg vermicelli noodles

Some Delicious Bun Recipes:

• How to Cook Pork Marrow Bone Vermicelli
• Fail-Proof Recipe for Delicious Sour Spare Rib Vermicelli

3. Crafting Delicious 'Thang' Vermicelli with Authentic Flavor

Prepare the Ingredients: 

Step 1: Soak dried shrimp in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes.

Step 2: Clean chicken and pork marrow bones thoroughly with salt, rinse several times, and drain before boiling.

Step 3: Roast dried shallots, onions, and ginger until fragrant, then peel and let them cool.

Step 4: Crack 3 eggs into a bowl, add a pinch of salt and pepper. Heat a non-stick pan over the stove, lightly grease with cooking oil. Pour enough eggs to create a thin layer. Cook the eggs until set and evenly golden, then transfer to a cutting board. Roll the eggs and slice into thin strands.

Image: @delightfulplate.com

Step 5: Clean and finely chop spring onions, cilantro, and basil leaves.

Step 6: Slice the pork sausage into thin slices, then cut into thin strips.

Image: collected

Step 7: Soak shiitake mushrooms in water, remove the black stems, and finely slice them.

Step 8: Toast sea cucumber or dried squid ink over low heat on a small stove.

Step 9: Soak dried radish in water until soft, then squeeze out excess water. Crush the radish with 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of sugar, mix well, and let it marinate for about 10-15 minutes to absorb the flavors.

Image: collected

Guide on how to make delicious 'Bun Thang'

Step 1: After soaking dried shrimp, strain and crush them, stir-frying until dry and fragrant.

Step 2: Prepare the chicken broth. Place chicken in a large pot and add enough water to submerge the chicken. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and vinegar, let it sit for 3-4 minutes, then skim off any impurities. Crush the roasted ginger, add it to the pot along with dried shallots and onions. Continue boiling until the chicken is cooked, then remove it and set aside in a separate bowl.

Image: collected

Tip: Check the doneness of the chicken by using a fork or knife to pierce the thickest part of the chicken breast. If the fork or knife goes through easily and you see clear juices flowing out (without blood), then the chicken is done. Transfer the chicken to an ice bath for 5-10 minutes to firm up the skin and meat. 

Step 3: After the chicken meat is cooked, strain and cut the bones into bite-sized pieces.

Step 4: After cleaning the chicken bones, blanch them in boiling water and discard that water. Then rinse them again with cold water and place the bones in a pot of broth. Add dried razor clams or roasted cuttlefish tentacles. Simmer for an additional 2-3 hours to make the broth rich and flavorful.

4. Final Product after Processing

Soak the rice vermicelli in water and transfer it to a bowl. Arrange ingredients such as sausage, shredded eggs, chicken, pickled radish, finely chopped shrimp, scallions, cilantro, basil, and shiitake mushrooms on top. Each ingredient should be placed in a corner for a beautiful and appealing presentation.

Image source: collected

The process of making 'Thang' vermicelli here is simple and takes the least amount of time. The broth for 'Thang' vermicelli has a perfectly balanced sweetness and a rich bone flavor. The accompanying ingredients are thinly sliced for easy consumption. You can enhance the flavor by adding a bit of shrimp sauce when eating.

5. Unveiling the 'Secrets' to Make Delicious 'Thang' Vermicelli Like Restaurants

To have a bowl of authentic and delicious 'Thang' vermicelli like in restaurants, refer to some small 'secrets' shared by experienced restaurant owners below!

• To achieve natural sweetness in the broth without adding sugar or seasoning, choose dried sá sùng or dried cuttlefish, roast them, and add to the broth.
• Add a bit of shrimp sauce when eating for a richer and more flavorful taste.
• You can prepare extra cà cuống or mashed pickled radish as side dishes.

Here is the recipe for making delicious and simple 'Thang' vermicelli. Hopefully, with the shared tips from Mytour Blog, you can add them to your cooking repertoire. Despite the complexity in preparing ingredients, this dish is truly delicious and enticing!

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