Since ancient times, Quang Yen shrimp cakes have not only been a seafood dish in daily meals across the countryside by the Bach Dang River estuary, but also a delicious delicacy to treat guests from afar.
Quang Yen shrimp cakes – a culinary gift to treat guests in the Bach Dang countryside
The dish of Quang Yen shrimp cakes has thus long become part of the customs of the people in Quang Yen Town. Visiting Quang Ninh via Quang Yen, tourists will have the chance to enjoy this delicious dish. The shrimp used to make the cakes must be raised on Ha Nam Island or in Quang Yen Town.
Quang Yen shrimp. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
With its large coastal tidal flats, numerous ponds, and lagoons, Quang Yen Town holds great advantages for aquaculture development. Therefore, to make the shrimp cakes, the shrimp used must be live and fresh, especially newly harvested and still twitching lively.
Fresh shrimp used for making shrimp cakes. Photo: VanHoa.
The shrimp are washed, peeled, deveined, and minced. Then, water chestnuts, shallots, and pork fat are diced and placed into a mortar to be pounded, with seasonings added for rich flavor. It is precisely the hand-pounding, along with the natural sweetness of water chestnuts and the rich savoriness of pork fat, that makes shrimp cakes a staple on Tet feast tables or guest banquets.
Shrimp noodle soup is also popular in Quang Yen. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
After being finely pounded, the shrimp paste is shaped by hand into round patties or wrapped around lemongrass stalks. The aromatic fragrance of lemongrass blending with the shrimp cakes delights diners even more. Each shrimp cake is coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried so that the inside stays tender while the outer crust becomes crispy.
Water chestnuts. Photo: thuocdantoc.org.
Shrimp cakes can be prepared and presented in various ways, but most importantly, hand-pounding makes the shrimp meat chewy, springy, and well-seasoned. The dish of Quang Yen shrimp cakes can be dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce, chili sauce, or a combination of chili sauce and creamy mayonnaise.
Shrimp cakes served with banh day. Photo: That la ngon.
Quang Yen shrimp cakes are best enjoyed with plain steamed sticky rice or banh day. The soft, chewy sticky rice grains and the fragrant, chewy rice cakes blend with the rich, naturally sweet shrimp cakes. During family meals, ancestral death anniversaries, Tet, weddings, and engagement ceremonies, shrimp cakes are prepared to showcase the host's culinary skill and to introduce their homeland delicacy to guests from afar.
Shrimp cakes. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
If you travel to explore Quang Ninh, remember to drop by the Bach Dang River estuary area to savor Quang Yen shrimp cakes, filled with ancient local flavors and the warm hospitality of the locals. And make sure to follow the iVIVU blog for more helpful travel guide articles for your journey!
