Rice vermicelli with fish

Bun Tha Ca (rice vermicelli with fish) is not only a specialty of Mui Ne, Phan Thiet but also a dish exemplifying the tine, creative cuisine of this coastal region. Bun Tha Ca is now available in most of luxury restaurants in this “capital of resorts”. It is one of the favorite dishes of discerning diners. Surprisingly, it derives from a very popular dish of the local people.

The main ingredient of Bun Tha Ca is ca suot (smelt fish), which is available locally in Phan Thiet. This fish is small, soft and has small bones with a high level of protein. It used to be served raw with fresh vegetables in the daily meals of the local people. When available in restaurants, professional chefs turn it into a top-ranking dish with far more sophisticated preparation and fine presentation.

Smelt fish is carefully lemon juice.

To get fresh smelt fish, it is best to buy it in the early morning, when fishing boats have just returned from the sea. “Choose fresh ones which are as small as the thumb, “said Chef Pham Van Dong in Hoang Trieu restaurant.

To make good bun tha ca, add fried fish (which is made from delicious saltwater fish), to the smelt fish, along with sliced pork, sliced fried eggs, starfruit, cucumber and vegetables (including shaved banana flower, common basil and coriander, etc)

To make it more attractive and mouthwatering, each ingredient is arranged in the cover of the banana flower, then put in a bamboo tray with a lotus (which is made of and onion) in the middle.

If you want to eat dry rice vermicelli, you can mix rice vermicelli with pork, fried eggs, cucumber and vegetables then pour tofu sauce over it. All the ingredients create a delicious dish with a peculiar blended taste: the sweet taste of fish, the sour taste of starfruit, the spicy taste of chili and the aroma of coriander.

If you want to change the taste, you can use broth which is made from seafood.

You can enjoy Bun Tha Ca at most restaurants in Mui Ne, Chef Dong says that this is one for the favorite dishes of overseas Vietnamese people. It is often served for lunch or dinner.

Source Travellive