Coconut trees are not only featured in poetry but also in the culinary culture of this land with delicious dishes that are famous far and wide. Ben Tre, a land famous for its vast coconut gardens, not only has fresh coconuts but also many delicious dishes made from coconuts in its cuisine. There are few plants that can be used from root to tip like the coconut tree. Below are some specialties made from coconut that you cannot miss when coming to Ben Tre:
- Coconut rice: Coconut rice is a traditional dish in Ben Tre, made from fresh grated coconut and cooked with rice. This rice dish has a rich aroma from coconut, combined with the softness of rice. Coconut rice is often eaten with savory dishes such as braised meat or fish, creating an attractive meal.
- Coconut cake: Coconut cake is a popular snack, made from rice flour, grated coconut and sugar. This cake is often steamed or fried, has the softness and sweet aroma of coconut. This is a typical dish during festivals and New Year.
- Coconut salad: Coconut salad is a cool and crispy dish, often made from fresh coconut pulp combined with raw vegetables, shrimp, squid or pork. This salad is mixed with sweet and sour fish sauce, creating a unique flavor, very suitable to enjoy on hot summer days.
- Coconut hotpot: Coconut hotpot is a special hotpot dish made from fresh coconut water, combined with seafood such as shrimp, fish, clams, squid, and fresh vegetables. The hotpot broth has a sweet taste of coconut, making the dish delicious and unique.
- Coconut braised fish: Coconut braised fish is a rustic dish, but very typical of Ben Tre. Fish (usually snakehead fish or basa fish) is braised with fresh coconut water, creating a sweet, delicious flavor, both preserving the freshness of the fish and imbued with the aroma of coconut.
- Coconut smoothie: If you want to enjoy a coconut drink, coconut smoothie is a great choice. Coconut smoothie is usually made from fresh coconut water, coconut meat, and shaved ice, creating a cool, delicious and nutritious drink, very suitable for hot summer days.
- Coconut candy: Coconut candy is a famous snack of Ben Tre. Coconut candy is made from grated coconut, sugar and milk, usually has a moderate sweetness and a characteristic coconut aroma. This is a favorite gift for many tourists when visiting Ben Tre.
Coconut milk snails have a very unique flavor. The fatty taste of coconut combined with the sweet taste of snails makes the dish not boring.
Coconut fried shrimp is a daily dish of Ben Tre people, because the preparation is simple, easy to make but delicious and especially has the fatty taste of coconut milk.
My Long rice paper is a specialty, the pride of Ben Tre coconut people. The coconut rice paper here is both fatty and spongy and has a fragrant coconut smell.
Coconut porridge includes rice cooked with coconut water and sweet pulp. Coconut porridge can be eaten with sugar or snakehead fish, both are delicious.
Coconut jam is made from good, drained coconuts, mixed with white sugar, then put on the stove over low heat, stir-fried continuously, until the coconut jam dries.
Coconut wine must be made from Siamese coconuts, small sweet fruits. The yeast to make coconut wine is rice wine yeast mixed with sticky rice wine. Coconut wine is more delicious when warmed or chilled, sweet, warm, aromatic, and cool.
Coconut rats are a species that destroys coconuts but are also a popular dish. Rats are processed into many dishes: grilled, steamed, cooked in curry, the most delicious is still coconut rat meat steamed in a rice cooker.
Coconut Worms: Only dead coconut trees have worms. People cut down coconut trees and catch worms. Because coconut worms eat all the nutrients of the tree, they are very fat and nutritious.
