Located in the Northeast region, Van Don island district possesses abundant seafood resources with high economic value. Among them, peanut worms are a special delicacy that impresses every visitor coming to Van Don.
Traveling to Van Don: The unforgettable, rare, and nutritious peanut worm delicacy
Unlike other species, harvesting peanut worms depends on the ebb and flow of the tides, and they can only be dug up when the water recedes. Peanut worms are a renowned and rare specialty that has long been found only in the marine waters of Quan Lan, Van Don.
Van Don peanut worms. Photo: Khoa hoc va Phat trien Newspaper.
Peanut worms can be prepared into a variety of signature island dishes: stir-fried peanut worms, fried peanut worms, peanut worm soup with piper sarmentosum leaves... delicious yet unique, carrying the savory essence of the sea that delights Van Don travelers.
Digging for peanut worms. Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper.
Peanut worms live in coastal sandbanks, especially on the tidal flats of Quan Lan. They are also known locally as sea worms, earth ginseng, sa sung... Quan Lan peanut worms are pinkish-gray and larger than those found elsewhere; previously, they were mainly used as fishing bait.
Quick eyes and nimble hands. Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper.
Digging for peanut worms is strenuous work that demands sharp eyes and swift hands, representing skills accumulated by local women over years of carrying spades to the beach in all weather conditions.
Peanut worm diggers are hardworking women braving sun and rain. Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper.
The gear of these women is very simple: conical hats, scarves covering their faces leaving only their eyes exposed, sand-digging spades, and baskets for holding the peanut worms as they painstakingly comb through the sandy flats.
The harvest after several hours of hard work. Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper.
Upon spotting the tracks of a peanut worm, they swiftly thrust the spade down and heave the sand up, catching the worm the moment it surfaces. Before sunrise, peanut worms burrow deep into the ground, making them exceptionally difficult to detect.
Quickly snatching a peanut worm. Photo: Dan Viet Newspaper.
The peanut worm harvesting season lasts roughly from March to October each year. Buyers only purchase whole, intact worms, so diggers must work delicately to ensure the worms do not break.
Digging for peanut worms at low tide. Photo: Tuoi Tre Newspaper.
Fresh peanut worms cooked immediately retain their supreme fresh flavor. First, they must be washed clean, slit along the body, and turned inside out to be scrubbed thoroughly to remove sand and any fishy odor, before being rinsed repeatedly until immaculately clean with a pale pinkish-white color.
Drying peanut worms. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
Next, the peanut worms are blanched in 70°C hot water and then rinsed with cold water; the preparation process is quite elaborate. Cooking peanut worm soup with home-grown spices, scallions, garlic, chili, celery, and piper sarmentosum leaves creates a flavorful, wholesome dish.
Dried peanut worms tossed in cooking oil. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
The most crucial aspect of cooking peanut worms is preserving their inherent fresh sweetness. Therefore, they do not require excessive seasoning, preventing spices from overpowering the authentic taste of this seafood.
Stir-fried peanut worms with vegetables. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
In addition to enjoying fresh peanut worms, Van Don travelers also have the opportunity to bring dried peanut worms home as gifts. The cleaned peanut worms are neatly arranged and dried over honeycomb charcoal briquettes rather than being sun-dried like many types of fish, squid, and other seafood.
Peanut worm soup with piper sarmentosum leaves. Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper.
Once dried, peanut worms are lightly tossed in cooking oil to make sweet and sour stir-fried peanut worms. The cook must stir quickly in the pan so they do not burn and develop an appealing golden hue. The condiments for this dish are also quite simple: crushed black pepper, lime, and chili sauce, making it an excellent snack to pair with drinks.
Photo: Du Lich Magazine.
Peanut worm meat contains 17 mineral elements and essential amino acids, making it not only appetizing but also highly nutritious. Consequently, this seafood brings immense nutritional and economic value to the coastal people of Van Don.
Peanut worm porridge. Photo: VnExpress.
Traveling across the length of the country reveals countless dishes defining each region, yet the rich, sweet, and succulent taste of peanut worms is sure to leave an unforgettable impression on Van Don travelers who have tasted it, lingering long in their memories.
