Crab cake - Bac Ninh specialty that evokes memories in many people

Crab rice cake used to be a delicious snack of the ancient people of Hanoi. It is a pity that no one sells it anymore and it may have been forgotten. However, in Dang Xa village (Van An ward, Bac Ninh, Vietnam), crab rice cake is still considered a specialty, famous and attracts the attention of tourists.

Rice and flour preparation process

This dish has a unique refreshing taste and is made from the best white country rice. The rice is soaked in well water for about 3 hours to soften, then pounded in a mill. After grinding, the flour needs to be soaked in water for at least 2 days. After that, the flour is pressed to clean the water with a clean white cloth, ensuring the flour has the right amount of stickiness and elasticity. This flour is poured into a cast iron pot (Dang Xa people usually use 5kg of flour/pot) and then the cake is shaped by adding lime water to make the cake crispy.

Rice cake cooking techniques

The technique of boiling the cake is also very important, because if the fire burns in the front or middle of the bottom of the pot, the pot will burn and the cake may be burnt. The skill of the person who cooks the cake is to combine stirring the dough and adjusting the fire so that the pot of cake boils, the firewood burns evenly around the pot and not concentrated in the middle. After about 3 hours of stirring, the cake is tested with the tip of a chopstick. If the dough flows in clumps and when touched with the hand feels dry, the dough retains its elasticity and toughness, then continue to pour the cake onto banana leaves or a tray to cool.

Combine rice cake with crab soup

This type of banh duc has many more characteristics than banh duc with peanut filling - if eaten without crab paste, it will be very bland. But when combined with fragrant crab paste, the flavor becomes different and becomes a specialty of Dang Xa village. Crab paste to eat with banh duc must be field crab, the large crab is crushed, filtered carefully and seasoned with a little salt before boiling. The heat under the pot of crab needs to be adjusted to almost boil, when the crab paste floats up, reduce the heat and cook for about 30 more minutes.

Processing crab soup

Fry the onions until fragrant and golden, then add the tomatoes and stir-fry until soft, then pour into the crab soup. You can add some elephant foot yam or sour ear fruit to enhance the flavor of the crab soup.

Presentation and enjoyment of crab cake

Now, the rice cake is cut into thin slices with a knife, neatly arranged in a ceramic bowl, accompanied by mixed vegetables such as split water spinach, lettuce, Vietnamese balm, Vietnamese coriander, Vietnamese coriander, banana shoots... and poured hot crab broth evenly throughout the bowl. The bowl of rice cake with crab broth still retains its crunchiness and toughness but absorbs all the essence of the crab broth, creating a dish with a refreshing, rich flavor and satisfying the soul of the diner. When enjoying the refreshing rice cake with crab broth, you can also listen to the Kinh Bac women with sweet and soulful Quan Ho singing voices serving for free.

Additional uses for full flavor

Holding a bowl of banh duc in hand, add some bean sprouts, mustard greens and steamed crab fat to the bowl, then sprinkle green onions on top and pour the soup to fill the bowl, add a spoonful of steamed chili and shrimp paste to eat with chopped raw vegetables, diners will fully feel the special flavor of this dish. Banh duc rieu cua has a smooth, cool and unique flavor. This dish is suitable to eat when it is still hot - especially on cold days, making you really satisfied.

This is a snack recipe from a reader, not a traditional recipe from Dang Xa village. With just a few simple steps, a little dedication and time, you have completed your own unique Banh Duc Rieu dish. Thank you for choosing iGuide.ai to accompany your interesting experience!