Hung Yen's delicious and unique specialty 'for fun' that even rich visitors find hard to buy

Often appearing on the tray of offerings on death anniversaries, weddings or Tet in Hung Yen, this specialty dish not only impresses with its appearance but also attracts with its strange and delicious flavor.

Tieu Quan chicken sausage is a dish originating from Tieu Quan village, Khoai Chau commune, Hung Yen province (Phung Hung commune, old Khoai Chau district).

This dish was also in the Top 100 Vietnamese specialties 2021-2022 voted by the Vietnam Record Organization (Vietkings) and Top Vietnam Organization (VietTop).

True to its name, Tieu Quan chicken rolls are made from the main ingredient of chicken, combined with a few other spices such as egg yolk, fish sauce, pepper, lard, ginger juice and shallot juice.

Through the skillful hands of local people, rustic ingredients are processed into attractive dishes, becoming popular specialties in the region and spreading to surrounding provinces.

Tieu Quan chicken sausage is one of the famous specialties in Hung Yen.

Ms. Bui Thuy - a member of a family with a long tradition of making chicken rolls in Tieu Quan village said that to make delicious rolls, it is necessary to carefully select ingredients.

Chickens should be free-range hens, heavy and firm. Clean the chicken, remove bones, tendons and skin, keep only the meat.

The onions are also chosen from the purple variety. The ginger used is the local variety to create a distinctive aroma. The lard is purchased, washed, and cut into thin slices or dice.

Some ingredients to make chicken rolls

After preparing all the ingredients, people will put the chicken meat into a mortar and pound it. This step must be done manually (pounding by hand) and using a stone mortar for the dish to be fragrant and delicious.

During the pounding process, people will pour the meat onto a tray to remove all remaining white tendons, then pour the meat back in to continue pounding.

When the chicken is almost pounded, add the remaining ingredients and mix well with a pestle until smooth.

Next, pour the mashed meat mixture onto banana leaves or aluminum foil, spread it out thinly and evenly, then cover with another layer of banana leaves.

This method not only protects the dish from dust and dirt, but also helps the sausage blend with the aroma of the banana leaves, avoid burning, and give it a beautiful color when grilled.

The pounded meat is spread out on a tray and grilled over charcoal.

After the meatloaf is spread out on the grill, it will be grilled on a charcoal stove. People will watch the fire to ensure the heat is just right so that the meatloaf is cooked evenly and has a fragrant aroma.

After the grilled meatloaf has cooled down, it is cut into small, bite-sized slices that look like cookies and have an attractive cockroach-wing color.

Tieu Quan chicken rolls are thin, soft, rich in flavor and have a distinctive aroma.

Ms. Thuy shared that Tieu Quan chicken rolls are considered a "snack" and not a full meal for local people.

Because when eating, one must enjoy it slowly and leisurely to fully feel the richness and smoothness that melts in the mouth of this specialty.

“Tieu Quan chicken rolls are an indispensable dish during Tet for local families, especially loved by many people living far from home, who want to make and enjoy them together during Tet reunions,” she said.

She also revealed that the chicken patties are very elaborate to make, do not use preservatives, and are soft, thin, and fragile, making them difficult to transport long distances.

Therefore, many people often joke that this is a dish that even people who live far away or have money find difficult to buy, and can only experience if they visit Tieu Quan village at the beginning of the new year.

Chicken rolls have become an indispensable "snack" during every Tet holiday for the people of Tieu Quan. Photo: VTV3

Chicken rolls combined with rice cakes are also attractive and loved by locals.

Ms. Thanh Thuy ( Hanoi ) once had the opportunity to visit her friend's hometown in Tieu Quan and enjoy the specialty chicken sausage. She commented that this dish not only impressed her in appearance but also had a unique flavor, completely different from the traditional sausage dishes she had eaten.

“When I first saw the chicken patty on the tray, I thought it was an appetizer or dessert. But when I tasted it, I realized that this type of patty is quite famous locally.

Although many families do not do business, they still make chicken rolls during Tet or to entertain guests who visit their home, both to maintain and preserve the soul of traditional dishes and to spread the unique culinary culture to friends far away," Ms. Thuy expressed.

Photo: Tieu Quan Quang Duy Chicken Rolls

Vinh Long specialty has a "sad" name, gourmets praise it as delicious, sweeter than crab . Although it has a strange "sad appearance" with a rough black shell, this specialty is an ingredient used to make many delicious dishes that attract customers in Vinh Long.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/dac-san-an-choi-vi-ngon-la-o-hung-yen-khach-o-xa-co-tien-cung-kho-mua-2468884.html