Recently, CNN, a cable TV network in the US, conducted a survey and voted on the world’s favorite specialties and dishes. The dishes on this list come from various countries such as India, France, Portugal, the US, and Thailand. Surprisingly, Vietnam also made it to the list, not with one but two dishes. This goes to show that Vietnamese cuisine is not inferior to any other country’s. Are you curious about these two dishes? Let’s find out together!
Summer Rolls
Summer Rolls
Summer rolls ranked 30th on CNN’s list of the world’s best dishes. Despite being at the bottom of the list, this humble Vietnamese dish beat out millions of other candidates to make it into the list of the world’s best dishes as voted by a large number of diners.
What sets summer rolls apart is their simplicity and accessibility. It is not a delicacy, nor is it an elaborate or expensive dish, but summer rolls captivate diners with the harmonious combination of ingredients and the distinctive dipping sauce.
Summer rolls originated in Southern Vietnam and are rolled like fried spring rolls. Each summer roll includes fresh herbs such as lettuce, beansprouts, basil, mint, and perilla, along with other ingredients such as boiled pork, shrimp, and rice vermicelli. All the ingredients are neatly arranged and rolled in rice paper. The special feature of this dish is the dipping sauce. Depending on their preference, diners can choose between a fish-based sauce or a soy-based one.
For many, the dipping sauce is the soul of the summer roll. It is made from a special type of fish sauce (which varies by region) combined with minced garlic, chili, lemongrass, and shallots. These ingredients blend harmoniously to create a sauce with a distinctive flavor and aroma.
In addition to the fish sauce, you can also dip the summer rolls in a black soy sauce. This sauce is made by mixing black soy sauce and peanut butter with crushed peanuts, fried onions, and chopped chilies. If you prefer a sweet, nutty, and mildly fragrant taste, the black soy sauce is a great option!
Pho
Pho is the 28th dish on the list of the world’s best dishes. Compared to summer rolls, pho ranks slightly higher. When it comes to pho, people immediately think of Vietnam, and when they think of Vietnam, they think of pho. This shows that pho is an extremely famous dish and a traditional food of Vietnam.
The main ingredients of this dish are rice noodles, broth, and sliced beef or chicken. Pho is typically eaten with fresh herbs such as scallions, beansprouts, coriander, mint, and especially sawtooth coriander.
While pho with beef or chicken is the most popular, it can also be transformed into mixed pho or stir-fried pho.
The broth is an important factor that determines the taste of pho. It is usually made by simmering beef bones with various spices such as cinnamon, star anise, grilled ginger, cardamom, sea wormwood, cloves, fennel, and grilled shallots. These ingredients come together to create a broth with a delicious, rich, and distinctive flavor.
Top 30 Dishes in the World as Voted by CNN
Let’s take a look at the top 30 dishes in the world according to CNN!
30. Summer Rolls, Vietnam
29. Ohmi-kyu Beef, Japan
28. Pho, Vietnam
27. Lechon, Philippines
26. Fajitas, Mexico
25. Butter Garlic Crab, India
24. Champ, Ireland
23. Lasagna, Italy
22. Poke, USA
21. Croissant, France
20. Arepas, Venezuela
19. Bunny Chow, South Africa
18. Kebab, Middle East
17. Lobster, Worldwide
16. Pastel de nata, Portugal
15. Pierogi, Poland
14. Donut, USA
See also:
13. Corn, Worldwide
12. Piri Piri Chicken, Mozambique
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