NINH BINH CUISINE

1. Lai Thanh wine

Lai Thanh is a rural area locating at the south pole of Kim Son district, which possesses various specialties like Tam Xoan rice, nep mua (mua sticky rice), nep hoa cau (areca sticky rice), etc. Among them, the most well-known is the so-called Lai Thanh wine rice that is distilled from rice planted in Lai Thanh commune. The ferment, which is used to brew wine, is made from some precious types of phamaceutical materials that help cirulate blood and sterilize.

2. Rare Goat

Tai De or Rare goat is a specialty food in Ninh Binh. The limestone moutains of Hoa Lu are shelter of these free-ranging domestic goats( the wild moutain goat in Viet Nam, the serow capriconis sumatraensis is strictly protected and very rare ). The moutain breeding goats are caught, plucked, well burnt, disemboweled and mixed with holly basil or duckweed for over 10 minutes. The goat meat is cut pieces( with skin ), dipping them in boiling water until half-cooked. As they are cool, they are evenly sliced( vertically ).
The half-cooked sliced meat shall be mixed with fried-sesame, which is roughly crushed, chopped up-citronella, lemon leaf, ginger, sliced-chilly, lemon juice and sodium glutamate. That"s it, a very excellent dish. Eating rare goat always accompany with fig leaf, green banana, star fruit.... particularly soybean jam

3. Yen Mac fermented pork roll ( Nem Chua Yen Mac)

Nem Chua has been made for such along time. The number of locals in Yen Mac who can make this kind of nem chua is not large because the work requires not only secret formule but also passion for the work. The production process need to be strictly followed; the finished fermented pork rolls ensure high quality, good taste, fresh colors, even slices, which can be kept for a week without degeneration of quality. The roll can be kept from 5 to 7 days and remain fresh, tasty and crispy. Yen Mac roll are served with a plate of lettuceor mint, they are supposed to wrapguava leaf, herbs around each roll, then dip it in fish sauce mixed with lemon juice, chopped garlic, chilly or pepper.

4. Com Chay ( Rice Crust)

Com Chay ( Rice Crust) is a special dish of Ninh Binh. However it does not mean the burn rice at the bottom of the pot.