Enjoy the 7-course beef meal from An Giang.

Grilled beef rolls wrapped in pork fat. Photo: THUY TIEN

According to locals in the Bay Nui region, the seven-course beef meal has a long history, often prepared for important family occasions to entertain guests. Later, the dish became more widely served in restaurants. Notably, at banquets, the seven-course beef meal is not fixed but is prepared flexibly, changing depending on the skill and expertise of the chef. Common dishes include beef porridge, boiled beef offal, stir-fried beef, beef in vinegar sauce, grilled beef rolls with fat, satay grilled beef, beef patties, beef hot pot with taro, and beef stir-fried with giang leaves…

Each beef dish has its own distinct flavor, but all are based on traditional cooking methods, using natural spices such as wild pepper, kaffir lime leaves, lemongrass, and fresh turmeric. A chef at Tony's restaurant in Chau Doc – famous for its seven-course beef meal – said the appeal lies in the fresh beef sourced from the Bay Nui region. The beef is tender and flavorful, delicious no matter how it's prepared. In particular, the restaurant often buys whole live calves, then singes them with straw to crisp the skin, making the beef sweeter and richer when eaten.

Among various dishes, boiled beef intestines are considered a basic but not simple dish. Beef intestines are inherently tough and easily develop an odor, so chefs must boil them carefully using a special recipe to ensure they are tender yet retain their crispness. Boiled beef intestines are usually served with wild vegetables, sour starfruit, unripe bananas, and, of course, a bowl of fragrant fish sauce mixed with ground pineapple.

Beef stir-fried with sour leaves is an unusual yet delicious combination. The sour leaves, which grow abundantly in the Chau Doc region, help to tenderize the beef, creating a mild sourness and a subtly sweet aftertaste.

Another very popular dish is grilled beef rolls wrapped in pork fat. Minced beef is mixed with pepper, lemongrass, and crushed peanuts, then wrapped around lemongrass stalks and covered with pork fat before being grilled over charcoal. When cooked, this dish has an attractive golden-brown color. The tender, sweet beef blends with the richness of the pork fat and the aroma of lemongrass, creating a distinctive flavor. Enjoying this dish in the evening, by the charcoal grill, with a few skewers of grilled beef and a glass of rice wine is truly unforgettable.

Ms. Tran Thi Diem, a tourist from Ca Mau, shared: “Every time we attend the Via Ba Chua Xu festival at Sam Mountain, my family always chooses the seven-course beef dish to enjoy. The beef here is sweet, fragrant, and very delicious; everyone likes it, especially the children.”

A trip to An Giang will be even more complete when visitors enjoy the seven-course beef meal. Take the time to explore this unique delicacy and see that the local cuisine is as captivating as its scenery and people.

THUY TIEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/thuong-thuc-bo-7-mon-an-giang-a463011.html