Pho dish with strange name, elaborate preparation takes half a day to 'come out' in Lao Cai

Instead of being served with hot broth as usual, the unique pho dish in Lao Cai is served with thick sauce, sliced char siu, eggs, crispy noodles, etc.

Con sui (also known as pho khan) is a Chinese dish that was introduced to Lao Cai and gradually became popular.

Ms. Hoa - owner of a restaurant specializing in serving sticky rice in Lao Cai city said that this dish includes many different ingredients such as: Pho noodles, shredded char siu, chicken eggs, crispy noodles, basil, green onions, etc.

Instead of being served with hot broth as usual, con sui is served with a thick sauce, with the characteristic red color of gac fruit.

“Con sui uses pho leaves, which are thinner, larger and chewier than regular pho noodles. This dish is served with a thick sauce like soup, so it is also called pho khan,” said Ms. Hoa.

The rice vermicelli is served with a thick sauce like banh canh. Photo: Vu Hue

According to the owner, making delicious sticky rice cake requires a meticulous process, especially preparing the ingredients which can take up to 10-12 hours.

Of these, the sauce making process is considered the most time-consuming. Each pot of sauce is usually simmered from bones for half a day with many different spices.

The chef must constantly "watch" to ensure the sauce is clear, fragrant, and has the desired consistency.

A good sauce must be thick, sweet enough, not too bland or too strong. Photo: Tuyet Do

With char siu, the meat is also carefully marinated with a special sauce that is red from gac fruit. People braise the meat on the stove until cooked and then continue to fry it with oil so that the meat is “crispy on the outside, soft on the inside” and has an eye-catching color.

The highlight of the dish is the crispy noodles served with it, made from two main ingredients: flour and sugar, then rolled thinly, pulled into long strands and fried in oil until golden brown and crispy.

Ms. Hoa said that depending on the place and the taste of each person, crispy noodles can be made from cassava or shredded sweet potatoes. The ingredients and flavors of the dish can also be different at each restaurant, each restaurant has its own secret recipe.

Each bowl of Sui costs about 50,000 VND. Photo: Sui Quan Co Nam

When eating, depending on preference, diners can add a little lemon juice, roasted peanuts, herbs, pepper or pickled cabbage, etc. to the bowl, mix well and enjoy.

Many diners who have enjoyed the dish commented that the dish has a unique flavor, suitable for visitors from far away to "change the wind" and experience something new in culinary culture.

Soft and chewy pho noodles, mixed with thick sauce with the aroma of simmered bones and herbs, mixed with a bit of crunchiness and richness from roasted peanuts and the rich flavor of char siu.

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