The scent of sticky rice and cassava in the winter wind of Hanoi

In the bitter cold of Hanoi winter, when the cold winds blow through every street, there is nothing that warms the heart like the smell of sticky rice and cassava rising from a small stall in the corner of the market.

Nep cai hoa vang - the fragrant sticky rice of the North. Photo: Thuy Linh

The rustic aroma evokes memories of early mornings on the way to school, the trembling hands of children receiving a handful of sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves, still warm from their mother's touch.

Cassava sticky rice is not elaborate, but has a strange charm. Each fresh cassava is carefully selected - it must have smooth skin, long shape, small core, little fiber, avoid buying cassava with bends or indentations, which have a lot of fiber, core... The skillful person chooses red-skinned cassava for a strong flavor, white cassava for a soft and fatty texture. Then the cassava is peeled, cut into pieces, soaked in rice water to dissolve the bitter taste, leaving a pure sweetness like the late winter sun.

At the same time, the fragrant sticky rice of the North is soaked until full, drained, then mixed with cassava, and lightly tossed with a little salt. The steam in the steamer boils gently, the white smoke rises, enveloping the smell of sticky rice, cassava, scallion oil… blending together to create a harmony of cold-season cuisine .

The vibrant green scallion oil is mixed in thoroughly once the sticky rice is cooked. Photo: Thùy Linh

A skilled sticky rice cook will open the lid at the right time, stir well so that the cassava and glutinous rice mix together, and add a little pork or chicken fat to make the rice grains plump, soft, and not sticky.

Then, a bowl of vibrant green scallion oil is poured over the onions, cooked just right to retain their aroma and color.

Once the sticky rice is cooked, it's spread out on a bamboo tray, drizzled with scallion oil, sprinkled with roasted sesame seeds or a pinch of fragrant fried shallots – all creating a simple yet heartwarming culinary picture.

Hot, sticky cassava sticky rice. Photo: Thùy Linh

A piece of hot, sticky, rich, salty, fragrant sticky rice with cassava… is enough to dispel the cold outside.

In the hustle and bustle of Hanoi 's streets, simply sitting by a small street vendor's stall, taking a deep breath of the fragrant, rich aroma of sticky rice, and listening to the wind rustling through the eaves – suddenly, even winter feels warm and charming.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/huong-xoi-san-trong-gio-dong-ha-noi-721117.html