Buzz
Ninh Binh, renowned for its diverse local dishes, offers a delightful experience whether you choose to enjoy or purchase its specialties as gifts.
Ninh Binh, with its modest 1400km2 size, is among the top 8 smallest provinces in Vietnam. As far as I know, Ninh Binh boasts around 20 specialties, not to mention other delicious dishes. Among them, the Top 10 delicious dishes of Ninh Binh compiled below are favorites among many tourists who enjoy them and buy them as gifts for their families.
Unmissable Delicacies of Ninh Binh
1: Ninh Binh Crispy Rice
Ninh Binh Crispy Rice was once voted by the Asian Record Organization in Faridabad, India, as an Asian record-breaking delicacy and ranked among the top 10 Vietnamese specialties in 2012. Join PasGo to explore more about this renowned Ninh Binh specialty:
What is Ninh Binh Crispy Rice made of?
Though it looks simple, it is meticulously prepared. Ninh Binh Crispy Rice includes ingredients like fragrant glutinous rice, Ninh Binh mountain goat meat, beef or heart, stir-fried with vegetables. The rice is selected from fragrant glutinous rice, giving it a crispy yet chewy texture and the fresh aroma of newly-harvested rice.
You can also purchase packaged Ninh Binh Crispy Rice as a special gift for your family. If you have the opportunity to enjoy it right in Ninh Binh, it might be the best!
Packaged crispy rice can be stored for 3 – 6 months.
2: Ninh Binh Mountain Goat Specialty
Renowned for its sweet aroma and distinctive firm texture of the meat.
Among the culinary delights of Ninh Binh, the mountain goat stands out as a true delicacy. Raised freely in the expansive limestone region, the mountain goat feasts on a variety of herbs, resulting in tender, lean, and flavorful meat. Indulge in exquisite dishes like goat with lime, goat in red wine sauce, or goat hot pot when you visit Ninh Binh!
For a unique gift of Ninh Binh's mountain goat, consider the delectable goat sausage. Ninh Binh's goat sausage boasts a sweet and robust flavor, perfectly complemented by the use of bamboo shoots and guava leaves, making it an excellent accompaniment to wine tasting.
Ninh Binh's mountain goat offers tender and aromatic meat without being overly tough.
3: Kim Son Wine from Ninh Binh
Once you've savored the unique flavor of Ninh Binh's mountain goat dishes, it's impossible to overlook Kim Son wine. This traditional elixir is crafted by the locals of Kim Son district, Ninh Binh. What sets Kim Son Wine apart is its use of fragrant rice and well water, resulting in an exceptionally aromatic brew. Despite its high alcohol content, Kim Son Wine remains fragrant and free from any impurities.
Kim Son Wine is often infused with exotic ingredients like snakes, geckos, and medicinal herbs, providing not just a delightful taste but also potential health benefits.
The finest Kim Son Wine is found in the Lai Thanh commune.
4: Shrimp Paste from Gia Vien
This jar of shrimp paste from Gia Vien is a truly special gift for your family. With this jar, your family's meals will be elevated to a whole new level. Gia Vien shrimp paste doesn't carry the typical fishy smell but boasts a gentle fragrance from carefully fermented shrimp. It has a slightly salty and sweet taste, often used as a dipping sauce for vegetables or roasted alongside minced meat and pork belly.
Gia Vien Shrimp Paste - a beloved Ninh Binh delicacy perfect for gifting.
5: Ant Egg Sticky Rice from Nho Quan
When it comes to unique dishes, the specialty of ant egg sticky rice from Nho Quan cannot be overlooked. Regarded as a culinary gem of Ninh Binh, it's not easily appreciated by everyone. Ant egg sticky rice combines the chewiness of ant eggs, the richness of shallot oil, and the aroma of glutinous rice. The most delightful part is the satisfying crunch when you bite into the ant eggs.
Ant Egg Sticky Rice now available at Quan Kien restaurant on PasGo.
6: Yen Mac Fermented Pork Roll
A distinctive approach to preparation!
Unlike the traditional Thanh Hoa fermented pork roll made from finely ground meat, Yen Mac Fermented Pork Roll is crafted from small-cut pork buttock mixed with rice powder, pork skin, accompanied by banana leaves, ginseng, and a touch of wine. Enjoy it dipped in garlic chili fish sauce for a delicious treat. Don't miss out on this unique culinary experience.
Yen Mac Fermented Pork Roll paired with garlic chili fish sauce.
7: Mountain Snails from Tam Diep
Differing from the common snails we often consume, mountain snails from Tam Diep are harvested from the limestone mountains. Feeding on grass and herbs growing on the mountains gives them a unique sweet and aromatic flavor. The best way to savor these mountain snails is steamed, locals here suggest that steamed mountain snails dipped in fish sauce are not only delicious but also nutritious. Stir-fried with tamarind or garlic, they are tasty too, but the spices may mask the original aroma of the mountain snails.
The finest way to enjoy Tam Diep mountain snails is by steaming them.
8: Field Crab Roasted in Hoa Lu Betel Leaves
Though a humble dish...
Field crab roasted in betel leaves is a simple yet highly beloved dish. Made entirely from field crabs, it carries a rustic flavor. When savored, you'll experience the crispiness of roasted crab blending with the distinctive fragrance of betel leaves, perfect with rice or as a delightful appetizer.
Field Crab Roasted in Hoa Lu Betel Leaves - A delicious Ninh Binh dish with a homely taste.
9: Kim Son Snakehead Fish Salad
An essential delight on the drinking table...
This appetizer is highly favored by gentlemen. Kim Son Snakehead Fish Salad is made from the snakehead fish, a relative of the eel. The fish is marinated and mixed with rice powder, served with fresh herbs, banana flowers, and drizzled with special dipping sauce (a signature sauce from the Kim Son region). When you indulge in this salad, you'll experience the sweet and fatty taste of the snakehead fish, combined with the crispiness and tanginess of various herbs, creating a harmonious and memorable flavor.
Kim Son Snakehead Fish Salad is meticulously prepared, a taste you won't forget after just one bite.
10: Gourd-infused Braised Fish
The ingredients for Gourd-infused Braised Fish include fish and gourd (a fruit grown along the riverside and in caves in Ninh Binh). Gourd has a slightly sour and bitter taste, perfectly braised with fish. What makes this dish special is its unique flavor, with the taste of the braised fish depending on the gourd. Gourd-infused Braised Fish has a stimulating sourness and absolutely no fishy odor.
Gourd-infused Braised Fish – A novel twist to braised fish.
Beyond the scenic landmarks of Trang An, Bai Dinh Pagoda, and Tam Coc-Bich Dong, these Ninh Binh delicacies are also quite renowned. If you ever visit Ninh Binh, don't forget to savor these 10 delicious dishes.
Moreover, on the PasGo Blog, you'll find numerous articles about specialties from different regions. Whether it's exploring Hoi An, Sapa, Phu Quoc, don't miss out on these collections!
Minh Phuong.
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