Touched by simple, rustic gifts.

When mentioning Hanoi, it's impossible not to talk about its cuisine . The city has left a lasting impression on countless visitors with its simple yet unique and distinctive dishes, characteristic of the capital city.

The unique and refined culinary traditions of Hanoi are embodied in its dishes, making them a distinctive feature of the thousand-year-old capital. Many famous specialties can be mentioned, such as bun cha (grilled pork with vermicelli), nem ran (fried spring rolls), Thanh Tri rice rolls, bun thang (vermicelli soup), West Lake shrimp cakes, and Lang Vong sticky rice flakes… However, in this article, the author only wishes to mention the simple and wholesome treats of Hanoi , such as mung bean porridge and banh duc (rice cake)...

Bean and eggplant porridge - a light and refreshing dish from Hanoi. (Photo: Minh Hạnh)

A light and refreshing treat

In late July, amidst the sweltering heat of summer, Hanoians' palates become noticeably more discerning. The oppressive heat makes people feel stifled. Yet, the skillful hands of the "artisans" of this thousand-year-old city still manage to infuse the flavors of the countryside into refreshing treats, satisfying both the discerning and meticulous tastes of Hanoians and pleasing visitors from afar.

It's only now that I realize, nothing is more pleasing to the eye than a simple bowl of mung bean and carrot porridge, a treat often sold at roadside stalls. At first glance, the porridge doesn't seem special; the ingredients are simple, and the preparation isn't complicated at all. Yet, when you eat it, it's surprisingly harmonious with your taste buds.

Mung beans or black beans, when cooked with rice, make a porridge that is both rich and thick, with a sticky consistency that seems to "slip down your throat before it even touches your lips." Both types of beans have cooling properties and are used to clear heat and detoxify the body, and have long been used in traditional Eastern medicine.

Taking a sip of porridge, gently chewing on a piece of fragrant fried tofu seasoned with scallions, and savoring the crunch of a pickled eggplant in your mouth, you suddenly find eating in the sweltering heat both light, smooth, and uniquely delightful. Those who like to add something different can add dried pickled radish or a salted egg as desired; all are delicious and harmonious.

If anyone finds the porridge a bit too "calm," there are also rice noodle salads available to satisfy diners. While still rice noodles, the rice noodle salad is lighter and less likely to become tiresome than the rice noodles dipped in soy sauce.

The soft, jelly-like rice cake, cut into bite-sized strips, is soaked in a rich, peanut and sesame dressing. The salad is refreshing, with the gentle coolness of blanched bean sprouts, the vibrant greens of thinly sliced ​​banana blossoms, herbs like water spinach, perilla, and basil, the fragrant aroma of roasted sesame seeds, and the familiar sour and spicy flavors of lime and chili.

Rice noodle salad (Bánh đúc nộm) is no longer as popular as it used to be. (Photo: Minh Hạnh)

While the food is delicious, not everyone is inclined to frequent restaurants, especially in this sweltering weather. Therefore, a bowl of boiled water spinach with pickled starfruit is the perfect accompaniment to rice.

Boil a bunch of water spinach, add two or three sour plums, and voilà, you have a plate of vibrant green vegetables with a bowl of broth to pour over rice. The water spinach broth itself isn't a culinary masterpiece, but the refreshing sourness of the plums elevates that clear broth, making you love Hanoi's nature even more.

Summer arrives, and so does the season for sấu (a type of sour fruit). Nowhere else can you find sấu as delicious as in Hanoi. Those from Hanoi living far from home understand just how precious those few kilograms of sấu sent by family are, and how much love and care the sender conveys. Dipping boiled water spinach into a bowl of sấu-infused fish sauce evokes a deep longing for home.

The smooth and creamy tofu pudding is a favorite among diners of all ages. (Photo: Minh Hạnh)

Overwhelmed with sweetness

Having talked about savory treats, how could we leave out sweets? On the scorching summer streets, we still see schoolchildren excitedly flocking to tofu pudding stalls. This snack isn't expensive, only around 10-15 thousand dong a bowl. Yet, after just one bite, you feel refreshed, lighthearted, and all the stuffiness and heat seem to melt away.

The key to making a delicious bowl of tofu pudding, besides ensuring the tofu is soft and smooth, is skillfully preparing the sugar syrup. The main thing is that the syrup should be mildly sweet, refreshing, and fragrant with jasmine; then the stall will never lack customers, not to mention the "modern" toppings like caramel or tapioca pearls.

While schoolchildren may love tofu pudding, older diners might prefer traditional sweet soups. When it comes to cooling the body, nothing beats lotus seed sweet soup. This dish can be made year-round, but it's best enjoyed in the middle of summer, when the lotus seeds are mature enough to be truly delicious and flavorful.

The lotus seeds are simmered until just cooked, remaining intact but melting instantly in the mouth. The tea is not overly sweet, but subtly sweet and fragrant.

That's why it's said that Hanoi doesn't captivate tourists with bustling streets, doesn't stir the hearts of those far from home with the glittering lights of a luxurious city, and doesn't win over its residents with lively entertainment areas. It is the simple, rustic things, like the delicacies of a thousand-year-old culinary tradition, that create the nostalgic and elegant beauty of the capital.

Hanoi scholar Nguyen Vinh Phuc once remarked: "Hanoi is a place where people from all directions converge, and it also interacts with foreign countries, so it has absorbed many of the finest aspects of all regions, both spiritual and material civilizations, including culinary art."

As life becomes more modern, people constantly create delicious dishes that suit their tastes, but the distinctive and unique dishes of Hanoi will undoubtedly always be an unmissable choice for Hanoians and tourists alike when they visit this land. When you think of Hanoi, you think of its simple, rustic dishes...

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/am-thuc-ha-thanh-thon-thuc-voi-nhung-mon-qua-moc-mac-dan-da-235948.html