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Kim Long, renowned for its enchanting beauty and picturesque landscapes, is a culinary haven with a myriad of delectable dishes.
Situated to the west of Hue city, along the northern banks of the Perfume River, Kim Long is famous for its beautiful garden houses. Many are introduced to Kim Long through the verses of two folk poems.
Kim Long, the land of beautiful girls.
Love brings memories that embolden the journey.
Kim Long is a renowned land with picturesque landscapes and delightful cuisines.
Many recognize Kim Long for its tempting dish: grilled pork rolled in wet rice paper. Balancing antiquity and sophistication, this dish is a culinary gem of Hue. The ingredients are easily found, but the preparation demands the cleverness and meticulousness of the chef. The dish is simple with main ingredients: wet rice paper, pork, and fresh herbs.
Wet rice paper is a type of rice paper made from a mixture of rice flour and tapioca flour. Similar to the commonly consumed rice paper rolls, wet rice paper is thinly spread and used immediately (if spread thick and dried, it is called rice paper). The difference between wet rice paper and rice paper lies in the thicker spread of wet rice paper.
Grilled meat is typically thinly sliced pork belly (sometimes including pork shoulder), marinated with pepper, onions, fish sauce, and a touch of five-spice powder. After a few hours of marination for flavor infusion, the meat is evenly arranged on the grill, cooked over glowing charcoal until it turns evenly golden and emits a fragrant aroma.
Once grilled, the meat is sprinkled with sesame seeds (toasted sesame) to enhance the aroma and appeal. This grilled meat, combined with fresh herbs and lettuce, serves as the filling for wrapping wet rice paper. The wet rice paper used for this dish is round, palm-sized, and placed on a small plate.
They spread each piece of rice paper evenly, place lettuce and herbs on top, and then add the cooked meat. When the filling is neatly arranged, they quickly roll the paper like spring rolls, with the only difference being that both ends are left open. The challenge lies in rolling quickly but with a gentle and even touch to avoid tearing the rice paper. In this way, one after another, dozens of rolled papers are neatly arranged on a plate, looking incredibly appetizing.
Grilled meat becomes even more delicious and enticing when paired with pure fish sauce diluted with sugar, water, and lime in specific proportions, garnished with a few slices of green chili and crushed garlic cloves. Those who prefer a spicier taste can add chili powder (chili powder sautéed to golden with oil). The dipping sauce, with its enticing array of colors, is irresistibly inviting.
Thanks to the distinctive flavor of the dipping sauce, this popular dish from Kim Long is recognized by many tourists.
Dip the soft, smooth, and enticingly filled piece of rice paper into the chili fish sauce, then place it in your mouth to experience the refreshing blend with the fragrant, tender, sweet, and flavorful grilled meat.
Chew slowly to savor each flavor of the various herbs, both aromatic and pungent, truly appreciating the finesse of the chef and each stage of grilling. Before finishing this dish, diners often indulge in another, as the lingering hint of gentle sweetness continues to vividly dance in their mouths.
The meat is continuously grilled over glowing charcoal, skillfully ensuring even cooking until it turns golden with the distinctive aromatic scent.
A plate of grilled meat wet rice paper served with special fish sauce.
Apart from the delicious grilled meat wet rice paper, the eatery is also renowned for its vermicelli with grilled meat. While grilled meat vermicelli is a common dish elsewhere, it remains a must-try delicacy for diners in Hue. Beyond the main ingredients of fresh vermicelli and grilled meat, this dish is enhanced by a harmonious medley of fresh greenery, including aromatic herbs, cilantro, finely chopped lettuce, shredded banana flowers, and julienned green papaya. Cucumbers…
Fresh vermicelli is placed in a bowl, followed by layering the various greens on top and placing the grilled meat over them, topped with sprinkled roasted peanuts. Grilled meat vermicelli is also dipped in fish sauce prepared as above. This is an enticing dish that even the most discerning diners appreciate when in Hue.
With such distinctive flavors, if you have the chance to visit Hue, along the way to Linh Mu Pagoda, do not forget to stop by Kim Long to savor these two richly flavored local dishes.
Steamed rice cakes and grilled meat vermicelli, specialties of Kim Long – Photo: Hạnh Chi by Nguyễn Vũ Hạnh Chi (ihay.vn)
Source: ihay.vn
Posted by: Hiếu Trương
Keywords: [Review] Delightful dishes from the charming land
