'Xoi trung kien' (steam glutinous rice with ant egg) is one of specialities and traditional dishes of Tay people in the northern mountains of Viet Nam. The crispy sounds of ant eggs seem to melt in the mouth and bring eaters the unforgettable taste of sticky rice and dried onions blended with ant eggs.
Phở is the quintessential Vietnamese dish, the word phở referring to the type of noodle used in the recipe. Flat rice noodles dance around with medium-rare slivers of beef or boiled chicken in a hearty beef stock. The more popular of the two widely known varieties is phở Hanoi.
In addition, ant eggs are also processed into a few other dishes such as: roasted ant eggs with lemon leaves, crispy fish with ant egg soup, fried fish ball with ant egg…
Unlike those in Western societies, where people exhibit significant psychological resistance to the idea of consuming insects as food, Vietnam has a longstanding tradition of entomophagy that can be traced back to Hoabinhian culture from 20,000 to 7,000 years BP, resulting in far less resistance to this practice.
The tradition of frying and eating queen ants is a tradition in several parts of the country. The legs and wings of ants are removed. The insects are then soaked in salty water and then roasted with spices.
As a result, consuming improperly cleaned or undercooked ant egg carries a risk of ingesting bacteria and pathogens similar to those found in flies. This can lead to gastrointestinal diseases, and in severe cases, infections that may be life-threatening.
Alpha taxonomy of Vietnamese ants was initiated by European and American authors in the early 20th century, and approximately 160 species and infraspecific taxa were described or recorded in this early period.
It is so called because the dish has bits of ground meat clinging to noodles, evoking an image of ants walking on twigs. The dish consists of ground meat, such as pork, cooked in a sauce and poured over bean thread noodles.
Drinking the hard stuff in Vietnam is for the most part considered a man's domain. Rice wine, which clocks in at around 29.5% alcohol, is the traditional masculine tipple and drinking it is a social activity (a very social activity).
Legends and myths mean that many histories in Vietnam are coloured a variety of shades. This is also the case with phở, the country's most famous dish, and its most successful culinary export. In the capital city of Hanoi, phở is a staple breakfast dish. From the early hours, phở stalls set up shop along the sidewalks.
Gustave Hue (1937) equates cháo phở to the French beef stew pot-au-feu (literally, "pot on the fire"). Accordingly, Western sources generally maintain that phở is derived from pot-au-feu in both name and substance.
Vietnam is home to a large number of excellent Indian restaurants that serve up mouthwatering and authentic cuisine. The following are some of the top Indian restaurants in Vietnam: Tandoor Restaurant, Ho Chi Minh City. Dalcheeni Restaurant, Hanoi.
1. Water Spinach/Morning Glory (Rau Muong) Water spinach is Vietnam's most popular vegetable, featuring hollow stems and arrow - shaped leaves that thrive in Vietnam's tropical climate.
Commercial crocodile meat is widely consumed in Thailand, with a surge in popularity in 2022 as rising pork prices due to inflation led consumers to seek alternative protein sources. The meat is leaner than pork, attracting health-conscious individuals.
The black aunt known for having the most painful bite in the world is known as the Bullet ant or Paraponera clavata and can be found in South America, mainly in countries such as Nicaragua, Paraguay, Venezuela, Brazil, and Honduras.
In Thailand, scorpions are not eaten as often as other arthropods, such as grasshoppers, but they are sometimes fried as street food. They are used in Vietnam to make snake wine (scorpion wine).
There is almost no way you could consume enough household ants in one day to even come close to a level remotely near toxic. The purported toxicity *might* be due to consuming excessive amounts of formic acid, but you would have to eat many many kilograms of them to even get close to enough for possible harm.
Among the ingredients for exotic dishes are dog, cat (little tiger), snake, bear, monkey, Java mouse, braised goat testicles, grilled wild boar, fried fox meat, bat and grilled porcupine. Dog is a favorite dish in some parts of Vietnam. There is whole area devoted to dog meat restaurants in Hanoi.
What is the difference between Saigon pho and Hanoi pho?
Hanoi Pho: Often accompanied by black bean sauce, fresh chili, lime, and herbs like Thai basil and cilantro. Saigon Pho: Includes black bean sauce, fresh chili, lime, bean sprouts, green onions, and a variety of herbs such as Thai basil, cilantro, and sawtooth herb.
