The hot weather can be exhausting, and it may take away your appetite. However, if you’re in Hanoi during the summer, there are some refreshing local dishes that you must try. These dishes are easy to eat and will help you beat the oppressive heat.
Cold snail vermicelli
Hanoi offers a variety of vermicelli dishes such as vermicelli with pork and crab, and grilled pork vermicelli. However, there’s a unique vermicelli dish that you won’t find everywhere, and that is cold snail vermicelli. True to its name, all the ingredients are served cold. This dish has a mildly sour and refreshing taste, making it perfect for a hot summer day.
Cold snail vermicelli is a simple dish with minimal ingredients, unlike the usual hot snail vermicelli that includes meat. The dipping sauce is typically made by boiling snail broth and adding seasonings.
The vendor will give you a bowl containing snail meat and the dipping sauce. The tangled or leaf vermicelli is served separately. You can add chili to your bowl according to your preference.
The combination of tangy vinegar, spicy chili, and fatty snail meat creates an unexpectedly appealing flavor. This dish can also be enjoyed with various herbs such as mint, lettuce, banana flowers, or shredded banana stems to enhance its freshness.
While simple, cold snail vermicelli may not suit everyone’s taste. Since all the ingredients are served cold, those with sensitive digestion or weak stomachs should exercise caution when trying this dish.
Bean Curd and Salted Vegetables Porridge
Porridge is a familiar and comforting dish. Usually, people opt for varieties like pork rib porridge, chicken porridge, or century egg porridge. However, on a sweltering summer day, a hot bowl of porridge may not be very appealing.
That’s why, during the summer, Hanoians often choose a lighter option: bean curd and salted vegetables porridge. The porridge itself can be made with either green beans or black beans. It is typically served with fried beans seasoned with onion and salted vegetables.
The porridge has a smooth and creamy consistency, with the beans adding a buttery texture. If you prefer black beans, you can opt for black bean porridge instead of green beans.
Both green bean and black bean porridge can be a bit bland on their own. To enhance the flavor, they are often accompanied by fried beans with onion and salted vegetables. These simple, homely dishes come together to create a well-loved combination.
With a touch of creativity, this dish has been elevated further with additional toppings such as salted duck eggs or preserved eggs, giving diners more options to choose from.
Jellied Rice Salad
Many people associate Hanoi with hot jellied rice. However, there’s another variation of this dish that is just as delightful, especially during the summer—jellied rice salad. In the past, this dish was often sold by street vendors, who would walk the streets with their baskets.
Jellied rice salad is a straightforward dish. The jellied rice is cut into small pieces and served in a bowl with boiled bean sprouts. The broth is made from boiling bean sprouts, sesame, and peanuts, creating a thick and creamy consistency. This broth is then poured over the jellied rice, and more sesame and peanuts are sprinkled on top for added flavor.
Jellied rice salad is often accompanied by fresh herbs such as basil, cilantro, and thinly sliced banana stems. The soft and smooth jellied rice blends perfectly with the sweet and cool broth made from boiled bean sprouts, enhanced by the nutty aroma of sesame and peanuts, and the crisp freshness of the herbs. These simple ingredients come together to create a delicate and memorable flavor.
