Nha Trang is not only well known for its beautiful beaches and natural landscapes, but also many tasty dishes such as xoi (steamed sticky rice) with braised anchovies, locally known as xoi ca com.
Bui Thi Lien, 60, who has been selling the dish for almost four decades, said the dish is a popular breakfast among locals thanks to its rich flavours and cheap price of between just VND7,000-10,000 (less than US$1).
A colourful plate of 'xoi ca com' is a popular breakfast. Photo dulichvietnam.com.vn
Apart from the soft and fragrant sticky rice, the most important part is of the dish is the braised fish, she said.
“I often come to the beach at 4am in the morning to wait for boats to return and carefully choose the fresh anchovies, which are of the same size, to bring home to braise with dried onion, chili, pepper and a bit of pork fat for at least two hours,” Lien said.
Braised anchovies make the 'xoi ca com' different from other sticky rice dishes in Viet Nam. Photo dulichvietnam.com.vn
She said her secret is to braise the fish, ensuring their is no odour. Her xoi ca com sells well not only among locals but also foreign tourists and travellers visiting Nha Trang.
“It is the beloved dish of many people, particularly the elderly and youngsters,” she said, adding that many students and workers are regular customers.
“The dish is filling, so they can study at school or work until lunchtime,” Lien said.
Apart from braised anchovies, diners can add eggs to sticky rice. Photo @mysterioussaigon
Pham Tuan Hung, from Ha Noi, said the dish is different in the capital, where sticky rice is sold with pork pate, sausages and other ingredients, so he enjoyed xoi ca com.
When he arrived at a xoi ca com stall in downtown Nha Trang, it was already full of people enjoying the food.
“Although it was the first time I had tried this kind of sticky rice I still enjoyed the sticky rice and braised anchovies, which are stewed but not broken, and still rich in flavour,” Hung said.
Ingredients of 'xoi ca com' include fresh onions, chili and others. Photo @chanlovefoods
“I will buy several kilos of anchovies for my wife to cook at home, and introduce the dish to my relatives and friends,” he said.
A diner sitting next to Hung said although anchovies are available all over Viet Nam, the most tasty are from the sea off Nha Trang.
He said guests can enjoy the dish at Mrs Loan’s shop on the crossroads of Huynh Thuc Khang and Nguyen Trai, 653 Xom Moi Market, 475 Tran Phu Street, and others locations in the city centre.
Duy An
