Bedfish porridge: A strangely named specialty you must try in Quang Tri

Discover bedfish porridge, a famous dish of Quang Tri with bamboo-like noodles and sweet snakehead fish meat, priced from only 20,000 VND.

The rustic flavors have made Quang Tri cuisine famous.

Snakehead fish porridge is one of the most famous specialties of Hai Lang district, Quang Tri province. This dish was once selected by the Vietnam Record Organization (Vietkings) as one of the Top 100 Vietnamese specialty dishes in the 2020-2021 period. Despite being made from familiar ingredients like rice flour and snakehead fish, the dish makes a strong impression thanks to its unique flavor and unusual name.

The name "bed slats" comes from the shape of the rice flour strands. The flour is rolled thin and cut into long strands, reminiscent of the bamboo slats on a traditional bed slat. The dish is also known by other names such as snakehead fish noodle soup or Hai Lang rice flour porridge.

Fish porridge, also known as snakehead fish noodle soup or Hai Lang fish porridge. Photo: Hoai An

The secret lies in carefully selected ingredients.

The appeal of snakehead fish porridge comes from the harmonious combination of two main ingredients: handmade rice noodles and fresh, delicious snakehead fish.

The rice flour noodles are chewy and soft.

To make perfect rice noodles, the chef must choose high-quality rice that is neither too sticky nor too dry. The rice is washed thoroughly, soaked in water for several hours, and then ground into a fine paste. After the paste is drained, it is kneaded thoroughly by hand. This step determines the elasticity and softness of the noodles when cooked.

After kneading, the dough is rolled thinly using bamboo tubes or glass bottles and then cut into strands. According to Ms. Thanh Mai, a restaurant owner in Dien Sanh commune (Quang Tri province), "The dough kneading process is considered a crucial factor determining the quality of the porridge. For delicious porridge, the dough strands must be good, have a certain chewiness, and not be too wet or too dry."

The rice flour used to make banh canh is selected from good rice and kneaded thoroughly so that when cooked it is elastic and chewy, without breaking or breaking. Photo: Chau Ngoc Nguyen

The meat of the snakehead fish is sweet and tender.

The main ingredient that gives the broth its sweetness and the filling is snakehead fish. The fish must be fresh, of a suitable size, and have firm flesh. The fish is cleaned, scaled, and carefully prepared. A special feature is that the fish's entrails are kept, cleaned, marinated, and stir-fried to add a rich, savory flavor to the dish.

After the fish is steamed, the bones are carefully removed. This step requires meticulous attention to detail to eliminate all small bones. The fish meat is then marinated with characteristic spices such as shallots, red onions, garlic, and chili peppers, and then simmered until firm. The fish bones are crushed and strained to extract the liquid, which is used to make the broth, creating a naturally sweet flavor without the need for pork bones.

Snakehead fish is carefully selected and processed to ensure the porridge has the most delicious and sweet flavor. Photo: O Hien

Experience the full flavor.

When a customer orders, the chef adds the noodles to the boiling broth. The porridge is then served hot in a bowl, topped with savory braised fish and fish offal. Diners will experience the sweetness of the broth, the rich flavor of the fish, the chewy noodles, and the spicy kick of pepper and chili.

Locals often enjoy steaming hot fish porridge, served with finely chopped shallots, fried onions, and, of course, a sprinkle of chili powder or fresh pepper. Ms. My Hanh (a tourist from Hanoi ) shared: “Although the hot porridge and spicy chili make me sweat, I still prefer to enjoy it that way to fully appreciate the flavor. This dish is even more appealing when eaten on chilly days.”

Fish porridge is most delicious and authentic when eaten with shallots and dried chili powder. Photo: Hang Le

Information for tourists

Fish porridge can be enjoyed at any time of day and year-round. Despite being a famous specialty, this dish is very affordable, costing only from 20,000 VND per bowl. This is a culinary experience not to be missed when tourists have the chance to visit Quang Tri.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/chao-ca-vat-giuong-dac-san-ten-la-phai-thu-o-quang-tri-397668.html