Clay pot Quang noodles in Hoi An

Quang Nam Quang noodles served with a clay pot of sauce is a new dish, helping diners enjoy the specialty while experiencing Hoi An culture.

Quang noodles is a typical dish of Da Nang - Quang Nam people. But Quang noodles in clay pots, in addition to the bowl of noodles, also has a clay pot containing the sauce.

This is a new dish created by Le Minh Canh (36 years old), introduced to the public since November 2022. During the Hanoi Autumn Festival 2023 from September 29 to October 1 at the Hanoi Children's Palace, he and two colleagues performed this Quang Nieu noodle dish.

As a chef in an army unit for 14 years, after being discharged from the army, Mr. Canh changed direction and returned to his hometown in Hoi An to do tourism business.

Mr. Canh's clay pot Quang noodles. Photo: NVCC

According to Mr. Canh, tourists to Quang Nam often only visit famous places such as Hoi An ancient town, paying little attention to traditional craft villages. Based on the flexible characteristics of Quang noodles ingredients, Mr. Canh has incorporated the cultural characteristics of many communes and wards in Hoi An into the dish.

Mr. Canh said that Quang noodles do not have a common recipe, the ingredients can vary depending on the region. However, the indispensable spice is crushed shallots.

The ingredients used to make Quang noodles are all sourced from Hoi An: Quang noodles from artisan Tam Thi's oven in Phu Chiem village, fresh shrimp from the Bay Mau coconut forest in Cam Thanh village, vegetables from Tra Que vegetable village, clay pots from Thanh Ha pottery village, wooden chopsticks from Kim Bong carpentry village. After enjoying the dish, diners will have dessert with Banh It La Gai and herbal tea from Cu Lao Cham.

Compared to regular Quang noodles, Quang noodles in clay pots are prepared in a more elaborate way. A mixture of pineapple juice, onions, tomatoes, pureed shrimp juice and crushed shallots is poured into a large clay pot and mixed well, then scooped into small clay pots and cooked on the stove. Add quail eggs and prawns and cook until done. Clay pots retain heat well, the prawn meat is sweeter, chewier and more flavorful.

When the ingredients are cooked, the small clay pot used to cook the broth is put on a round tray lined with banana leaves, containing raw vegetables to eat with (sliced ​​banana blossom, lettuce, basil, young cabbage, bitter herbs). The hot noodles are put on a deep ceramic plate. Add the marinated pork, simmered until golden brown with shallots, green onions, roasted peanuts and grilled rice paper. Before enjoying, diners pour the sauce from the clay pot onto the noodles, squeeze more lemon, break the grilled rice paper into pieces, mix well and enjoy with the raw vegetables with chopsticks engraved with the word "Kim Bong".

Quang Nieu noodle stall at Hanoi Autumn Festival 2023 on September 29. Photo: Quynh Mai

Unlike the light taste of pho, Quang noodles are characterized by both rich aroma and flavor. "Although people in the Central region eat saltier food than those in the North, the salty taste is mixed with a little sweetness, which is very unique," said Vu Thi Quynh Chi (28 years old, Hanoi), who lived in Hoi An for about a year.

Visiting the booth at the festival on September 30, Do Thi Quynh Mai (27 years old, Hai Phong) commented: "The way of preparing, eating and the taste of Quang noodles are all different from the Quang noodles I have eaten many times in Hoi An. Normally, the sauce is poured directly into the bowl of noodles, not in the pot like this."

According to Mai, Quang Nieu noodles still retain their basic flavor. The rich sweetness of the shrimp paste in the broth blends with the hot, chewy noodles, with the characteristic aroma of shallots. The shrimp meat is chewy and sweet, the braised pork belly is richly flavored and dyed yellow with annatto oil. The raw vegetables are fresh and cool, the grilled rice paper is crispy, and the roasted peanuts are fatty and rich.

The most unique and innovative thing that impressed her was the cultural story that was incorporated into the dish. "After enjoying Quang Nieu noodles, I learned about some craft villages in Hoi An such as Kim Bong carpentry village or Phu Chiem noodle village," Mai said.

In August, Mr. Canh's Quang Nieu noodle dish won second prize in the Quang Nam province's creative startup ideas and projects competition in 2023.

After the event, many diners came to the restaurant on Vo Chi Cong Street, Cam Thanh Village, Hoi An City to enjoy claypot noodles and listen to Mr. Canh share about local culture.

Mr. Canh has registered to protect the Quang Nieu brand. In the future, he hopes to cooperate with the government and tourism agencies to organize tours combining Quang Nieu noodles with experiences in craft villages to "increase people's income and revive and maintain traditional craft villages".

Article and photos: Quynh Mai

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/my-quang-nieu-dat-o-hoi-an-4661291.html