Buzz
Despite their low prices, the deliciousness of Nam Dinh's cakes like xiu bao and banh beo is beyond doubt.
Experience 6 local cakes in Nam Dinh that are worth trying at least once in a lifetime!
1. Xiu Bao Cake
When it comes to renowned cakes in Nam Dinh, xiu bao (xiu pao) is definitely a must-try. Originating from the Chinese community living on Khach Street (now Hoang Van Thu, Le Hong Phong), xiu bao has a unique texture and aroma, with layers that can be peeled off like thin sheets, somewhat resembling pia cake crust.
Nhân bánh là thịt xá xíu màu đỏ nâu sậm, xắt hạt lựu trộn với mộc nhĩ, mỡ lợn và nửa quả trứng gà luộc ăn bùi bùi béo ngậy, cảm giác đặc biệt khó tả. Chiếc bánh xíu báo nhỏ xinh luôn là món quà sáng quen thuộc của bao thế hệ học sinh Nam Định. Còn với người đi xa, chiếc bánh xíu báo là một niềm nhớ nhung, là món quà rẻ tiền nhưng nếu được tặng, ai nấy đều hào hứng, đón đợi.
2. Lychee Cake
Lychee cake is a prominent specialty of Hai Hau region in Nam Dinh. Despite its name, this cake is not made from lychee fruit; it simply resembles a small round lychee. The cake boasts a fragrant, crispy, creamy, and slightly sweet flavor.
What makes lychee cake delightful is that each piece is fragrant and crispy; once you start indulging, it's hard to stop. Whether eaten alone or enjoyed with tea, lychee cake is a perfect match.
3. Thorn Cake
Nam Dinh is known for producing delicious, sweet, and chewy thorn cakes, a typical specialty of this region. The most famous thorn cake in Nam Dinh is Mrs. Thi's Thorn Cake. This traditional cake retains the original flavor of thorn leaves and glutinous rice.
Along with the filling, a blend of various ingredients such as peeled green beans, pork fat, peanuts, lotus seeds, and coconut is used. Each ingredient adds its unique touch, resulting in a distinct aroma, rich sweetness, and creamy texture. Eating Nam Dinh thorn cake, you'll experience its chewiness, sweetness, richness, and creaminess, keeping you coming back for more.
4. Pillow Cake
If you're thinking all pillow cakes are the same and wondering why they're considered a specialty of Nam Dinh, let me tell you that Nam Dinh's pillow cakes are quite different from those found elsewhere.
Influenced by the Chinese culinary style from the ancient Chinese quarter, Nam Dinh's pillow cakes are distinct in their preparation, appearance, and taste. Unlike Hanoi's pillow cakes, which feature a crispy egg dough shell meticulously folded to resemble a pillow and served with sweet and sour fish sauce for dipping along with raw vegetables, Nam Dinh's pillow cakes are made from rice paper crust filled with layers of wheat flour (with fillings of vermicelli, meat, and eggs). When eaten, the cake is soft and not overly rich.
Holding the cake in hand, spreading a bit of homemade sweet chili sauce, and enjoying it with a few slices of pickled papaya and sweet and sour pickled radish is enough to savor this special treat. Pillow cakes are most commonly sold at the gates of schools on Bac Ninh Street, Nguyen Du Street, etc., priced at 8,000 VND per piece.
5. Water Fern Cake
Water fern cakes in Nam Dinh are different from the cup-shaped water fern cakes in Hue, which are made solely from rice flour poured into square banana leaf molds, steamed, topped with fried shallots, cut into small square pieces, and served with sour fish sauce with a sprinkle of pepper, similar to the dipping sauce for rolled rice pancakes.
On cold days, sitting huddled next to a plate of water fern cakes, feeling the warmth melting in your mouth, spreading through your body, you'll realize how delightful and deeply fulfilling the simplest things can be. Water fern cakes are sold at a small stall in Dien Hong market.
6. Canal Village Steamed Rice Rolls
Steamed rice rolls are a popular and easy-to-make dish found in almost every province. However, the most renowned ones are the steamed rice rolls from Thanh Tri district (Hanoi) and Canal Village (Nam Dinh), with Canal Village steamed rice rolls being a precious gift fit for royalty.
Canal Village steamed rice rolls are plain, without any filling. Yet, the thin, smooth, fragrant rice sheets made from Moc Tuyen rice impress everyone who tastes them. Without the need for extravagant flavors, Canal Village steamed rice rolls are simply delicious when dipped in hot fish sauce and served with pork sausage.
According to Afamily
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourNovember 24, 2017
