Enjoy our famous grilled chicken.

The grilled chicken dish from Ô Thum is delicious. Photo: THUY TIEN

From the center of Tri Ton commune, tourists travel to Tuc Dup Hill Tourist Area, then continue for about 500m towards Co To commune and you will see a paved road leading into the mountain on the left. Following this road, tourists will reach O Thum Lake. O Thum Lake is located at the foot of the mountain, with a calm surface and clear blue water creating a picturesque landscape. When mentioning O Thum Lake, tourists are not only impressed by the beautiful scenery but also attracted by the famous grilled chicken dish.

According to the owner of one of the first grilled chicken stalls at O Thum Lake, this dish originated in Cambodia but has long since been introduced to An Giang province and gradually become a famous local specialty. Although grilled chicken is available in many places throughout the province, the most appealing is still the grilled chicken at O Thum Lake, O Lam commune. There are quite a few eateries around O Thum Lake serving this dish. Customers don't have to wait long; in about 40 minutes, they can enjoy a hot, fragrant, and delicious grilled chicken.

At first glance, many people might think this dish is simple, but in reality, it has a rather elaborate preparation method. According to many experienced chefs, the grilled chicken here must be made from free-range chickens, each weighing between 1.3 and 1.8 kg. The chef only begins preparing and marinating the chicken after the customer places an order, ensuring the meat is always fresh and delicious. In particular, the "lá chúc" (a type of herb) is a special spice that adds to the uniqueness of this dish. The "lá chúc" plant is a specialty, widely grown in the Bay Nui region. Its leaves have a tangy, fragrant, and non-bitter taste.

To make delicious grilled chicken, the chef prepares garlic, lemongrass, and other spices... Along with kaffir lime leaves, the spices are mixed well and rubbed onto the chicken's skin and inside. The chicken is marinated for at least 30 minutes. While waiting for the chicken to absorb the spices, the chef prepares the stove and pot. The pot is lined with a layer of lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and salt at the bottom, then the chicken, with its skin lightly brushed with oil, is placed in the pot. Whether the chicken is delicious and authentic depends on the "grilling" process. The chef must skillfully control the fire to ensure the chicken cooks evenly.

The dish's appeal lies in the chicken's distinctive aroma of lime leaves and lemongrass after being roasted, and the skin turns a beautiful golden color. Despite being cooked, the chicken retains its natural sweetness, a unique characteristic that defines the O Thum roasted chicken dish.

Grilled chicken is usually served with banana blossom salad or cabbage salad, dipped in various sauces such as sweet and sour fish sauce, salt and pepper with lime leaves, chili salt, or red chili dipping sauce. The chicken is grilled over just the right amount of heat, resulting in firm, tender meat that isn't dry. Picking up a piece of chicken, adding a piece of salad, and dipping it into the sauce, the sweet, chewy chicken, the crispy salad, the savory flavor of the grilled garlic, and the fragrant lime leaves blend together to create an unforgettable culinary experience.

After trying O Thum grilled chicken for the first time, Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong, from Can Tho City, shared: “I heard many friends recommend O Thum grilled chicken as very appealing, but only now have I had the chance to try it. The first time I tasted it, I was immediately captivated. The chicken meat was sweet and tender, accompanied by the unique aroma of the betel leaves. With a reasonable price, O Thum grilled chicken will definitely be my first choice when I return to the Bay Nui region.”

It's wonderful to visit the Seven Mountains region, enjoying the famous O Thum grilled chicken while immersing yourself in nature and breathing in the fresh air – truly a pleasant experience.

THUY THAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/thuong-thuc-ga-dot-tru-danh-a463747.html