Grilled mud crab with salt and chili

"I heard Ca Mau is very far away" made me hesitate for someone who loves to travel. It wasn't until last weekend, when I was invited and provoked by some ladies: "Let's go to Ca Mau, people from the West don't know that Ca Mau is so rustic". I was so angry that I nodded my head immediately!

When mentioning Ca Mau, a culinary enthusiast like me immediately thinks of the famous specialties of this land of vast mangrove forests: spicy curry rice noodles, crab, snakehead fish, dried shrimp, three-sided crab, water fern, mudskipper... I have had the opportunity to eat all of them, even though not in Ca Mau. The mudskipper in particular makes me most curious, because I have not enjoyed it yet but have heard gourmets praise it so much.

This fish is similar to the star goby but has rough skin, two big bulging eyes on the top of its head, can crawl on water, crawl quickly on the ground, even climb trees thanks to its two fins like two arms. Restaurants in Ca Mau all have hot pot, braised with pepper, mixed salad, grilled with salt and chili... made from the goby fish.

Departing from Ho Chi Minh City at 6am, the bus stopped at some spiritual places such as Mother Nam Hai and Father Diep Church for the sisters to pray. When it was almost dark, we arrived in Ca Mau City. At that time, everyone's stomachs were rumbling for "energy".

We went to a seafood restaurant, the first dish I ordered was grilled mudskipper with salt and chili. The ladies who went with us, some stuck out their tongues, some shook their heads and said "no way, mudskipper is so disgusting". The owner of the restaurant enthusiastically said: "Oh my gosh, going to Ca Mau without eating grilled mudskipper with salt and chili is a loss! This dish is very simple to make, just clean the fish, spread a layer of salt and chili on it and grill, turn it evenly when the skin is golden brown, fragrant, then spread a layer of scallion oil to enhance the flavor. That's why customers love it so much. It's addictive, let's try it!". She was so enthusiastic, everyone agreed.

In no time, the plate of grilled fish with salt and chili was brought out, golden brown, fragrant, and decorated with some green vegetables, looking very eye-catching. All the negative feelings about its appearance seemed to disappear. Everyone eagerly used their chopsticks to break off a piece of fish, dip it in the fish sauce with garlic and chili, put it in their mouths and had to exclaim. The fish meat was firm, sweet, and fragrant without being dry or fishy, ​​mixed with the sweet and sour taste of the fish sauce with chili, we can say the delicious taste penetrated to the teeth!

Grilled mudskipper with salt and chili is probably a gift from nature to this land at the end of the country, motivating diners who are "afraid of the long distance"!

Source: https://nld.com.vn/diem-den-hap-dan/thoi-loi-nuong-muoi-ot-20201203214932702.htm