Dong Nung fermented fish has rich flavor of the countryside

Dong Nung fermented fish is recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a 3-star OCOP product from 2022.

For a long time, fish sauce has not only been a traditional dish but also a stable source of income for many households. The dish is elaborately prepared from fish such as silver carp, bream, and grass carp that are naturally raised in clean ponds, ensuring the fresh, sweet taste typical of the countryside.

After being cleaned, the fish is salted, dried in the sun and mixed with rice bran - a fragrant powder made from roasted and finely ground sticky rice. After that, the fish is kept in a ceramic jar for at least a month to ferment naturally. When being processed, the fish is usually fried or grilled on a charcoal stove. The outer layer is golden and crispy, the aroma spreads, blending the fatty taste of the fish with the rich, salty rice bran, making those who enjoy it once remember it forever.

Not just a rustic dish, Dong Nung fermented fish has now become a 3-star OCOP product. This is an important milestone to help the product reach a large market and elevate the brand.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang - Director of Thuong Nong Agricultural Cooperative shared: “Dong Nung fish sauce is made entirely from fresh fish, raised in a natural environment, so it always retains its characteristic flavor. We produce it by hand, without using preservatives, ensuring food safety. Currently, the product is not only consumed in the district and province but also expanded to neighboring localities. Previously, fish sauce was mainly consumed through restaurants or ordered as gifts, passed on by word of mouth through acquaintances. Although not widely advertised, the products were sold as soon as they were made. Currently, to reach consumers more effectively, the Cooperative has expanded its consumption channels on e-commerce platforms, while maintaining traditional sales methods. Thanks to that, Dong Nung fish sauce is increasingly known and loved by many people”.

Dong Nung Fish Sauce products are invested in eye-catching packaging, with traceable product origin, increasingly building the trust of consumers inside and outside the province.

According to Mr. Thang, being recognized as an OCOP product is the motivation for the Cooperative to actively invest in packaging, labeling, traceability and building a professional distribution system for the product. "Currently, we not only sell in Phu Tho but also deliver to Hanoi , Hai Phong and even some customers in Ho Chi Minh City also order as gifts. Fish sauce has become a meaningful gift from the countryside" - Mr. Thang proudly said.

Impressed from the first time enjoying, now Dong Nung fermented fish has become a familiar dish for Ms. Khuat Thi Van Anh's family in Gia Cam ward, Viet Tri city. Ms. Van Anh said: "I learned about Dong Nung fermented fish during a visit to the Phu Tho OCOP Fair. My family loves this dish very much. I often buy it as a gift for relatives from far away as a way to convey the familiar taste of my homeland".

From a simple dish, Dong Nung fermented fish is now present in many family meals, becoming an indispensable part of the hometown's culinary treasure. This dish, imbued with the identity of the midland region, has conquered diners with its rich flavor and sincerity, without fuss or style, just like the people of that countryside.

Thuy Phuong

Source: https://baophutho.vn/ca-thinh-dong-nung-dam-da-huong-vi-que-231738.htm