Thanh Hoa has many famous dishes such as nem chua, goi nhech, cha tom, banh rang bua, etc. Few people know about the buffalo skin taro soup of the Thai people here. This dish is considered a "specialty" of the highland people, appearing frequently in daily meals.

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The Thai people in Thanh Hoa often have buffalo skin taro soup on their meals. Photo: Le Duong

According to the Thai people in Son Thuy commune (Quan Son district), buffalo skin soup has existed for a long time. However, not every household has buffalo skin available. The type of buffalo skin that people usually use is dried skin, preserved by leaving it on the kitchen shelf, and can be used for a year or longer.

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Pieces of buffalo skin blend into the thick broth. Photo: Le Duong

Because the buffalo skin is dry, when cooking soup, the cook must process it very carefully, through many stages. First, the buffalo skin must be grilled on the stove for about 15-20 minutes, then blanched in boiling water for about 2-3 minutes, using a knife to scrape off all the soot and wash it clean.

Once the buffalo skin is clean, people will cut it into bite-sized pieces and simmer it. It takes about 6-8 hours to simmer until soft.

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Glutinous rice flour helps thicken the broth. Photo: Le Duong

When the buffalo skin is soft, people put the taro leaves (both stems and leaves) into the pot and cook until the leaves are soft and fluffy. To make the soup thick, sticky rice flour is indispensable.

The sticky rice is soaked for about 30 minutes, then drained and pounded. When the soup is cooked, the cook adds spices such as mac khen, pepper, lolot leaves, fish sauce, salt, etc. to create a unique flavor.

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It takes 6 to 8 hours to cook a pot of buffalo skin soup. Photo: Le Duong

According to the locals, buffalo skin taro soup is refreshing and fragrant, not only present in family meals, but also indispensable during the holidays and Tet of the Thai people. Depending on each person's preference, you can add a little pia to make the soup more flavorful.

In the past, this dish was often cooked by people in winter or on rainy days.

The eldest sister-in-law's bowl of bird's nest soup with red dates was highly praised by her mother-in -law. I just want to express my feelings as the youngest daughter-in-law in a family where love and justice always seem to lean towards one side. Even though I know that the eldest daughter-in-law and the youngest daughter-in-law have their own fates, how can I relieve this resentment?