Not feeling disadvantaged when the flood season rises, on the contrary, the people of the Mekong river area feel lucky because every year the floating water overflows to irrigate alluvium for the fields and all kinds of attractive fish and shrimp.
The higher the water, the more spirit fish. However, only the early season lingfish is really the most delicious and sweet. The fish is only as small as the tip of a chopstick, so people call it young lingfish or milkweed lingfish. The lingfish has a patient, slightly bitter taste but is very delicious. Unlike other types of fish, the smaller the baby lingfish, the sweeter the meat and because it is not yet large, the bones are soft, and the belly is fatty.
Photo: VnExpress
The unique specialty of the Southwest people is Ling's fish sauce. Wanting to eat lingfish sauce is very easy. Clean the fish and put it in a composting pot. For every 1 part of salt, 6 parts of fish, brewed within 45 days is the best. Spirit fish sauce has a characteristic delicious taste, served with bananas, or raw vegetables to ensure that the rice pot is clean. We brewed fish sauce together, Uncle Hai packed a big jar for my house to save and bring to Saigon to eat gradually. There are not a few lingfish, but only this season is delicious. This is a favorite dish of my whole family. Braised fish paste, making hot pot or simmering with eggs all bring an irresistible deliciousness.
Braised lingfish with tamarind is the most popular salty dish in my hometown - Kien Giang. Almost every house this season must have a pan of braised lingfish, whether it is braised rice, pepper braised or braised ginger. Clean the fish and drain it, then put it in a pot, pour in coconut water, add fish sauce and store it on low heat until it is almost empty. Then, add the tamarind and then turn off the heat. The special feature of this dish lies in the right place is the common braised tamarind and then when eating, serve it on a plate, tamarind beams to eat with fish. A piece of rice, a piece of fish has a delicious taste that melts in your mouth.
Image: Discovery West
The second salty dish that is no less feat is Fried Lingfish with Flour. I volunteered to help my family, preparing this dish alone from making fish to marinating and frying, then laying it out on a decorative plate. Unlike other types of fish, the lingfish does not cut off the head or shave the scales, only hooks the pharynx and then squeezes the intestines to wash it. Because the fish is small, it takes a lot of time to make, but the finished product is irresistibly delicious. This dish rolls of raw vegetable rice paper dipped in fish sauce, garlic, and chili are delicious.
Photo: Star
The last dish is also the most anticipated dish of the floating season - Crazy Lingbong Fish Hot Pot. You have to return to the West, row a canoe to the field with your own hands, cut off cotton to catch fish, to see how nature has bestowed on people delicious food. Picking crazy cotton must be light-handed, so it should be picked in the early morning, when the fresh flowers are open. Because the more noon the crazy cotton blooms, the more it can no longer retain its aroma.
The broth of lingfish hotpot in my opinion is not much different from sour soup. Instead of using ready-made lemons or tamarind, my uncle uses young tamarind leaves to create a delicate acidity, different from our Saigon people who often cook. Chop a fresh coconut and pour it into the hot pot to cook, add a few tablespoons of delicious fish sauce. Fry the garlic fragrant, add a little fat, cilantro and cook until simmering. The way to eat is simple, where to eat, lightly pour the lingfish there because the fish is very soft and cooks quickly. While eating, dip the crazy cotton to keep the crispiness and sweetness from the cotton.
Photo: Phuong Nam Restaurant
A rustic country meal is like that, not fussy about money. From the available ingredients given by nature, Western people have prepared many diverse and rich dishes. Come to the floating water season to experience the wonders of nature for yourself, feel the rustic and sincere people here and enjoy unique dishes with your relatives and family!
Migo Harmony