Buzz
The quantity of ocean tuna eyes hardly ever leaves Phu Yen province's borders as it is just enough to supply local eateries. In other places, if available, the preparation methods are equally incomparable.
Ocean Tuna Eye – An Exclusive Delicacy You Must Try When Visiting Phu Yen
Phu Yen is a land favored by the sea with stunning scenery and exceptional cuisine. Alongside dishes like ocean tuna wrapped in mustard greens with soy dipping sauce, jellyfish hotpot, the ocean tuna eye is a dish that merely mentioning brings Phu Yen to mind for diners.
Despite being a signature dish, the ocean tuna eye often deters diners due to its intimidating size. However, once you've sampled this dish, you'll undoubtedly reminisce about its flavor even after leaving Phu Yen.
Ocean tuna typically weighs between 40-50 kilograms, so its eye is quite sizable. Chefs usually place the tuna eye in a small clay pot along with vegetables, spices, and some traditional Chinese herbs like Chinese apples, dried tangerine peel… They then cook this pot over a fire. Depending on the size of the tuna eye, one pot can hold one or two tuna eyes to serve diners.
What's unique is that despite being stewed with various Chinese herbs, when eating, you hardly taste the herbal flavor overshadowing the fish. Once the ocean tuna eyes are cooked, locals here will bring the whole covered pot and place it on a small plate for guests. Besides the plate, they also don't forget to place a piece of charcoal and light it up to keep the dish warm.
In the perpetually cool weather thanks to the sea breeze, sipping some broth, biting into a piece of Chinese apple, and relishing the tuna eyes... will make you truly experience the culinary culture of the locals. Remember to pick up an extra chopstick of aromatic herbs, including shredded basil, to fully appreciate the deliciousness of the dish. Ocean tuna eyes, slightly chewy and fatty, are often enjoyed by Central Vietnamese with peanuts and rice paper.
Each place in Phu Yen has its own way of cooking and presenting, but in terms of taste, the flavor remains almost unchanged. You can enjoy this dish at roadside eateries or in Phu Yen's restaurants and hotels. The price of the dish ranges from 20,000 to 30,000 VND per pot.
According to Vnexpress
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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook
TravelExperts.comJuly 31, 2015
