Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish In Mekong Delta

Being crispy outside but tender inside, smelling, pretty delicious and healthy, Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish (Ca Tai Tuong Chien Xu) is one of the most famous specialty foods of Mekong Delta. Giant gourami is a kind of freshwater fish weighing 0.5 – 1.5 kg. In Vietnam, especially in Mekong Delta, it lives in ponds and swamps. We call it Elephant-ear fish because it looks like an elephant’s ear. The interesting thing about Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish is that the cook doesn’t remove the fish scales and fins. The cook must be patient, skillful, and experienced enough to fry the whole fish in a big pan at high temperature. Oil should cover the fish and be hot enough to make sure the fish scales and fins still remains and become crispy.

Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish In Mekong Delta

Delicious Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish

Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish must be served hot using a special wooden tool as shown in the photo below. It is usually eaten with steamed rice, vegetables, herbs and sweet, sour and hot fish sauce dip. Instead of steamed rice, it is usually eaten with rice paper and rice noodles. Just use rice paper to wrap a piece of crispy fish, salad, cucumber, herbs, star fruit slices, green banana slices, rice noodles into a medium roll. Then dip the roll into fish sauce dip and tuck in. Some prefer dipping this food with “Mắm nêm” – a sauce made of fermented fish. Some cooks make tomato sauce or pineapple sauce to pour on the fish and top it with crushed peanuts.
ho chi minh street food tour by motorbike with local students

Mekong Delta is full of rivers, channels, ponds, swamps, and lakes with lots of fishes, elephant-ear fish is easy to catch there. Do not miss trying Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish on your trip to this peaceful and beautiful region. There you will have a chance to enjoy a flavorful food with the freshest vegetables, herbs and fried fish as well as savory rice noodles, fish sauce, “Mắm nêm” made by locals.

Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish In Mekong DeltaThe Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish is usually served with steamed rice, vegetables, herbs, and sweet, sour and hot fish sauce dip

Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish In Mekong Delta

To eat,  just wrap fish, rice noodles, vegetables and herbs in rice paper. Then dip the wrap into the tasty sauce made from fish sauce or Mam nem

tourists have their lunch In Mekong Delta
ho chi minh street food tour by motorbike with local students

Foreign tourists are excited at tasting Deep-fried Elephant-ear Fish in Mekong Delta

How are you feeling? I am sure, you want to try it 🙂 Go to Mekong Delta to eat and have fun like local people. or just join the Mekong Delta My Tho – Ben Tre Full Day and enjoy the best fish food that you have not tried before!

Click here to learn more Mekong Delta Tour, Saigon motorbike tour, Saigon food tour by motorbike, and other Ho Chi Minh City Day Trips.

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