With a variety of ingredients such as black persimmon, carp, pork belly, aromatic herbs... nham has become a famous specialty throughout the Hiệp Hòa region, Bac Giang.
Nham from Bac Giang - a familiar dish among locals
For the residents of Hoàng Vân commune, Hiệp Hòa district, Bac Giang province, nham has become an indispensable dish in family gatherings. It has also been added to the appetizer menu in various restaurants in Bac Giang province.
The preparation of nham is similar to the salad of Southern people. Ingredients include black persimmon, pork belly, carp, aromatic herbs, sour star fruits, roasted peanuts, coriander, mint... Additionally, there are shallots, pepper, lime, chili, and some other spices.
Nham is delicious, especially thanks to the fragrant, rich flavor of persimmons. This is a specialty of the Vân Xuyên village. In the village, there are many ancient persimmon trees, which usually bear fruit in July, and ripe fruits have shiny black skin.
When preparing nham, the chef will peel the persimmons, remove the seeds, and then finely chop them. The pork used must be fresh pork belly, with a good balance of lean and fat. Only then will the dish not be too dry or greasy.
The meat is rubbed with salt, washed thoroughly, drained, then mixed with fish sauce, MSG, and left to marinate for about 1 hour. Next, steam the meat until cooked, let it cool, then slice thinly. Many people also opt to pan-fry the meat, which is quite appealing - the meat becomes golden brown, visually enticing.
As for the carp, it will be fried until crispy, gently removing the bones. All ingredients are then mixed with aromatic herbs, thinly sliced sour star fruits, seasoned with a bit of fish sauce, salt, MSG, and sugar to taste.
To enhance the flavor of the nham, some sautéed golden onions are added to the mix of available ingredients.
After completing all the steps, the chef will arrange the nham on a plate, sprinkle some crushed roasted peanuts on top. When eating, you can enjoy it with a bowl of soy sauce, feeling the salty, sour, sweet flavors distinct from other dishes. You can try this dish in restaurants in Hiệp Hòa district or at local markets.
Source: Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourJuly 8, 2015