Top 4 delicious and unique specialties of Cu Chi

Cu Chi veal

When mentioning specialties of Cu Chi, one cannot fail to mention the famous young beef dish. The reason why the young beef here is highly appreciated by diners is because of its tenderness, natural sweetness, and subtle milky aroma.

According to locals, to create this renowned specialty dish, they usually choose young calves, about 5-6 months old, that are still exclusively breastfed, resulting in meat that is fragrant, tender, and subtly sweet.

Beef rolls wrapped in rice paper are a favorite dish among many diners (Photo: Nguyen Hong Lien)

After going through several stages, including quality assessment, the veal is roasted until golden brown, the outer skin is scraped off, and it is stored in the refrigerator awaiting processing. Veal can be transformed into hundreds of different dishes such as veal wrapped in rice paper, veal hot pot with wild vegetables, veal dipped in vinegar, etc., satisfying the diverse tastes and preferences of tourists from all over the world.

Young jackfruit mixed with meat

Jackfruit is widely grown in Cu Chi, bearing fruit year-round. Over time, local people came up with the idea of ​​utilizing this "homegrown" fruit to create a new dish: young jackfruit mixed with meat.

In Cu Chi, jackfruit trees bear fruit all year round, so visitors can enjoy young jackfruit mixed with meat at any time of year (Photo: Gam Lee).

To make delicious young jackfruit salad with meat, people in Cu Chi usually choose jackfruit that is just beginning to ripen, with the thorns on the peel spread out to the right extent. The jackfruit must be thoroughly drained of sap after harvesting, then peeled, the core removed, and only the segments and fibers kept.

Young jackfruit is sliced ​​into large pieces and boiled with a little salt. This process is repeated several times to remove the bitterness and prevent the jackfruit from turning black. Then, it is torn or cut into small, bite-sized pieces and mixed with sweet and sour fish sauce, along with boiled pork, shrimp or chicken, and herbs.

Boiled bamboo shoots mixed with shrimp and meat

Similar to jackfruit, several other plants such as bamboo and rattan are also widely grown in Cu Chi. Therefore, many dishes made from bamboo shoots are also available in this area and are loved by many diners, such as boiled fresh bamboo shoots mixed with shrimp and meat.

To make delicious bamboo shoot salad with shrimp and meat, people in Cu Chi usually choose large, sweet bamboo shoots from the "tau" variety, unlike other types which are bitter. The harvested shoots are peeled, thinly sliced, and then soaked in salt water. Afterward, they are boiled several times to maintain their crispness and white color.

Fresh bamboo shoot salad is easy to eat and can be mixed on its own or with added meat or boiled shrimp as desired (Photo: Tuyet Trinh)

After boiling the bamboo shoots, drain them and mix them well with boiled pork belly and shrimp, adding sweet and sour fish sauce, crushed roasted peanuts, and herbs. This dish can be eaten immediately or enjoyed with shrimp crackers.

Steamed cassava with coconut milk

Although a common dish found in many provinces and cities across the country, steamed cassava in coconut milk is still considered a renowned specialty of the Cu Chi region.

Cassava from Cu Chi is famous not only for its sweet, fragrant, and chewy texture but also for its connection to a glorious period in history. Here, visitors can easily find cassava and steamed cassava sold along both sides of the road, attracting many visitors to enjoy this treat when visiting the tunnels.

Steamed cassava attracts customers with its simple, easy-to-eat flavor and distinctive aroma (Photo: Luyen Ngoc)

Besides the most popular dish of steamed cassava with coconut milk, visitors can also try steamed cassava with pandan leaves or cassava ground into flour to make cassava noodles. These dishes, although simple to prepare, have an appealing flavor and are affordable, making them a favorite for everyone.

Besides the dishes mentioned above, if you have the opportunity to travel to Cu Chi, you can find and buy some specialties as gifts for your loved ones, such as Cu Chi rice paper, Cu Chi cow's milk, roasted chicken, grilled elephant fish with chili and salt, etc.

Phan Dau

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/top-4-dac-san-cu-chi-thom-ngon-la-mieng-2180125.html