Mai fish salad

Plum Fish Salad

Mai fish is a small fish 8–10 cm long, thin, about the size of an index finger, like anchovies but less fishy, the fish has a long white body with stripes like anchovies but the flesh is clear and firm. In appearance, apricot fish is similar in shape to anchovies, but has scales and is thinner.

Apricot fish swim together, forming schools in shallow waters, young enter estuaries, but then return to the sea. They eat both animals and phytoplankton.

In Vietnam, apricots are found almost in the seas from north to south, but are most concentrated in Doc river (Ca Mau) and Ba Hon (Kien Giang) and also recorded in Binh Dinh. This fish is also concentrated in Phu Yen, Nha Trang, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Vung Tau... Apricot fish live in brackish water, but O Loan lagoon is home to the most apricot fish in Central Vietnam.

Mai fish is processed with many delicious dishes: Mai fish sour soup, Dried apricot fish, Mai fish soaked in sesame, Mai fish braised with pepper, deep fried breaded apricot fish, Mai fish noodle ... but the most delicious dish - the most famous is Ca Salad. Roof.

Mai fish for salad must be really fresh, because fish meat is only made rare. Buying fish needs to be scaled, head and belly removed. Then remove the backbone of the fish and wash it. Bring the cleaned fish mixed with lemon juice or vinegar to make the fish slightly cooked. Place the fish on a plate with chopped onion, ginger, and peanuts. Mai's fish salad eats rice paper rolls with raw vegetables: herbs (lettuce fish, basil...), lettuce, cucumber, star fruit, acrid banana (eaten to avoid stomach upset).

Sometimes just one look, one gesture or one sentence can change our lives forever.

Same with food. With an elegant presentation of Mai Ngoc Suong fish salad with heirloom peanut sauce, the dish becomes more luxurious and makes you want to eat it without letting go of your chopsticks. As for the Phu Yen region, the plate of fish salad is more with more herbs, minced mango, chili, roasted peanut tamarind sauce and pureed, the rustic delicacy is even more delicious with O Loan apricot fish.

Depending on the region, different sauces are used to create different flavors. However, there is one thing in common for Mai fish salad, this is a dish that diners must use all five senses of the body to enjoy: The eyes look at the attractive presentation of the dish without feeling hungry, the hand rolls the rice paper. with the accessories - the main ingredients of the dish, The human nose has the aroma of peanut sauce, the tongue tastes the sweetness of fish, the sauce and the sourness of raw vegetables, Headphones with the crunchy sound of cucumbers (where included). baked rice paper).

I first enjoyed it in the early 90s at Ngoc Suong Cam Ranh. Still delicious today. Ngoc Suong restaurant is now available in many places such as: Cam Ranh, Saigon, Mui Ne (changed owners but Mai fish salad is still delicious - the name of the restaurant is now Giot Suong). If you have a chance, give it a try. Remember to say the pass: "Tatinta" - 😉, they will issue a VAT invoice for you so that you have the opportunity to participate in the lottery with the Tax Department.