Shrimp rolls are a traditional dish of the people of Yen Vinh village, Da Trach commune (Khoai Chau district), enjoyed during holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), anniversaries, and parties… This dish embodies many attractive aspects of Vietnamese culinary culture.
Shrimp rolls, a specialty of the people of Yen Vinh village, Da Trach commune (Khoai Chau district).
Originally a land along the Red River with abundant natural resources such as fish and shrimp, the people of Yen Vinh village have long created a unique, elaborate, and meticulous yet simple and rustic dish: shrimp rolls. This is not a gourmet dish, but it is especially loved by the locals during the Lunar New Year.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh, a resident of Yen Vinh village, shared: "I don't know when the shrimp roll dish originated, but every Tet holiday, in addition to traditional dishes, a plate of shrimp rolls is always considered a 'specialty' on my family's dinner table."
From simple, familiar ingredients, the creativity, skill, and meticulous preparation of the locals have created the unique flavor of this dish. Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, a cultural official in Da Trach commune, said: "The ingredients for this dish are selected quite carefully, as is the preparation method. Most importantly, the shrimp must be fresh and medium-sized, about the size of a little finger, caught in ponds or rivers, not farmed shrimp. The shrimp are cleaned, their claws are removed, and then they are stir-fried with a little salt and sugar; fried tofu, fried eggs, boiled pork belly, and Vietnamese sausage (these ingredients are cut into finger-sized strips); rice noodles, green onions, or celery. The accompanying vegetables include: lettuce, coriander, mint, basil, etc."
When eating, place a spring onion or celery stalk at the bottom, then add lettuce, cilantro, mint, and Vietnamese coriander. Next, add meat, egg, tofu, Vietnamese sausage, rice noodles, and a shrimp. Finally, use a celery or spring onion stalk to wrap it tightly like a small spring roll. The dipping sauce for this dish should have a balanced taste of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet…
This dish is both rustic and sophisticated, thanks to the wonderful blend of flavors and colors, and it's relatively complete in terms of nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, vegetables) in a single wrap. It offers the sweet and rich taste of shrimp and meat, the creamy flavor of egg, the nutty taste of fried tofu, and a touch of light rice noodles... The dish's colors are also very appealing.
Unlike other types of rolls that can be made and eaten year-round, shrimp rolls are at their best in winter, especially during Tet (Vietnamese New Year), because that's when onions and coriander – the key ingredients that create the unique flavor of this dish – are in season.
Yen Vinh shrimp rolls are still cherished and passed down through generations in every household here. They are a local product offered to the Saints, a light and refreshing dish on the dinner table of many families during Tet (Lunar New Year)...
Huong Giang
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