Come to Hung Yen to enjoy the special "heavenly gift"

The Red River, rich in alluvium all year round, bestows on the peaceful land of Hung Yen specialities that are only available once a year in the spring. These are the specialties of sardines and sea urchins.

Sardines, a "heavenly gift" only available in Spring

Sardines live in the sea, when spring comes and the weather warms up (from February to April of the lunar calendar), they swim upstream to the river to lay eggs, many of which are in the Red River, passing through Hung Yen province. The sardine fishing season for fishermen is also around this time.

Sardines are only slightly larger than crucian carp, with clear eyes, a flat, silvery body, and a dorsal fin with a long, protruding “flag”. As a rule of survival, female fish must cross the current and return to their birthplace in the spring to lay eggs.

Sardine fish cake specialty

Sardines can be processed into many delicious and attractive dishes such as: Sardine cakes, fried sardines, braised sardines, sardines grilled with grapefruit leaves,... however, the most popular is still crispy fried sardines. Fried fish seems simple, but each region and each family has a different way of processing it. Some places just need to marinate with simple spices and then pan-fry with grapefruit leaves. Some people are more sophisticated and elaborate, marinating the fish with salt, ginger, turmeric, cucumber and then grilling it on a charcoal stove to create a fragrant aroma, then frying it again when eating. At that time, the crispy fish pieces are dipped in fish sauce mixed with garlic, chili, pepper or ginger-crushed Bần sauce to enhance the delicious flavor.

Not only is this small fish popular for its unique flavor and affordable price, it is also a nutritious “superfood” with many wonderful health benefits. In season, housewives buy it to prepare delicious dishes for their families to enjoy.

Mr. Dang Quang Huong in Van Lam district said: Every year, I buy sardines in Hung Yen city, clean them, vacuum-pack them to preserve and use gradually during the year and give them to friends and relatives. Sardines are rustic but can be processed into many delicious dishes, my family members all love them.

As a specialty only available in spring, people far from home look forward to returning home in spring to enjoy the unique flavor of this special fish from the Red River.

Con vo, a little-known specialty

In the Red River area flowing through Dong Ninh and Pham Hong Thai communes (Khoai Chau), there is a unique insect species that has not only been associated with many generations of local people but has also become a delicious specialty, attracting diners. That is the "con vo" (also known as "con lo vo" or "con vat vo").

Like sardines, the mullet only appears in the Red River for a short period of time each year. That is from February to April of the lunar calendar, when the weather is in late spring and the red cotton flowers begin to bloom, then the mullet appears.

Stir-fried squash with water spinach - a rustic yet unforgettable dish of the people living along the Red River

The eagle usually makes its nest on the riverbank. During the second to fourth lunar months, it breaks out of its nest and flies to the river to molt in the early morning. After molt, the eagle lays eggs and dies. The eggs hatch into larvae, drift along the water current to the riverbank to make a nest and begin a new life cycle.

According to fishermen's experience, the sea urchins often appear when the weather changes, especially when it is hot and humid and then it rains. The sea urchins do not appear everywhere, so finding and catching them is very difficult. To catch the sea urchins, fishermen have to get up at 3am and use boats with nets to hunt on the Red River. "Hunting" the sea urchins is not simple. People have to watch the weather and the water so that on the day the sea urchins break their nests and fly out to molt, they can bring tools to collect them.

Ms. Le Thi Hue - a resident of Dong Ninh commune (Khoai Chau) said that on a lucky day, her family can catch 10kg of cod. After catching, cod is cleaned, the soft part that has just been peeled is removed and sold for about 200,000 - 250,000 VND/kg. Cod is processed into many dishes such as: cod fried with mac mat leaves, cod salad, cod stir-fried with squash, cod hotpot with crab, cod cooked with catfish, cod sausage...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh, in Hanoi, said: Born and raised in Pham Hong Thai commune, I have enjoyed dishes made from cohosh since I was a child. Every year, when the season comes, I buy it, clean it, and freeze it in the refrigerator to eat gradually because this is a dish that my whole family loves.

Considered as "heaven's gift" of the Red River, dishes made from sardines and sea urchins, although simple and rustic, have a rich alluvial flavor and culinary value that anyone who enjoys them once will remember forever...

Duong Mien - Huong Giang

Source: https://baohungyen.vn/ve-hung-yen-thuong-thuc-dac-san-loc-troi-3180503.html