Unique dish 'chicken hidden in grapefruit peel' in Dong Nai, in top 100 Vietnamese specialties

Tan Trieu grapefruit village is located in Tan Binh commune, Vinh Cuu district, Dong Nai province, about 3km from Bien Hoa city center. Tan Trieu orange-leaf grapefruit has a low pear shape. When ripe, the peel is yellowish green, smooth. The grapefruit segments are balanced, the segments are small and tightly packed, ivory yellow, sweet and cool. The grapefruit segments are not bitter, dry and peeled. This type of grapefruit is especially loved by tourists.

The locals here prepare a famous dish from grapefruit, which is steamed chicken with grapefruit. A chicken weighing about 1-1.5 kg is "hidden" in the grapefruit peel. When the lid is opened, the aroma of chicken and grapefruit essential oil spreads out, the hot steam rises up, stimulating the diners' sense of smell.

According to Ms. Huynh Anh Kim Ha (48 years old), in charge of the kitchen at Tan Trieu Nam Hue Grapefruit Garden, the main ingredients of this dish are Tan Trieu orange-leaf pomelo and free-range chicken.

The grapefruits chosen are usually just ripe enough so that the skin is not bitter and not too soft, and are relatively large in size. The grapefruit is cut across the top third and then the inside is skillfully removed. "This step is very difficult, requiring experience and meticulousness, so that the skin does not crack. I have been doing this for more than ten years, so sometimes it only takes a minute to separate the pulp from the skin," said Ms. Kim Ha.

The hollowed-out grapefruit peel will be used to stuff the chicken. The steamed grapefruit chicken must be a local chicken or a free-range chicken with yellow skin and firm, sweet meat. "This dish cannot be prepared in advance and only made when customers order. If the steamed grapefruit chicken is left for too long, the chicken will become bitter," Ms. Ha shared.

After cleaning, the chicken will be marinated with spices such as sugar, salt, pepper, chili, MSG, dried onions, etc. to absorb and then stuffed into the grapefruit peel. For large chickens, the chef will cut them into bite-sized pieces. For smaller chickens, the chef will cut them into four pieces. To make the dish more flavorful, Ms. Ha often adds a little grapefruit wine.

"Chicken in grapefruit" is steamed for 30-35 minutes. According to Ms. Ha, this time is just enough for the chicken to be cooked and the grapefruit peel to release essential oils, which permeate the chicken. "If you use industrial chicken, if you steam it for too long, the chicken will be soft and mushy, but if you don't steam it long enough, the grapefruit peel will not release its characteristic essential oils," Ms. Ha said.

From the time the customer ordered, it took Ms. Ha about 45 minutes to prepare the steamed chicken with grapefruit dish.

The golden, rich chicken pieces blend with the bitter, spicy taste and characteristic aroma of grapefruit, creating a unique flavor that attracts diners. This dish is usually enjoyed while hot.

On October 20, 2023, at the Independence Palace (HCMC), the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association coordinated with tourism associations nationwide to organize the Festival to Celebrate Vietnamese Culinary Culture (VHAT Celebration Festival). The grapefruit salad and grapefruit steamed chicken dishes made by chefs of the Dong Nai Province Chefs Association were honored and added to the Vietnamese culinary map.

In 2022, the Vietnam Record Organization confirmed that Tan Trieu grapefruit and Tan Trieu grapefruit steamed chicken dish are in the top 100 specialty gifts and top 100 specialty dishes of Vietnam.

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