Rice Noodles with Fried Tofu and Fermented Shrimp Paste

Rice Noodles with Fried Tofu and Fermented Shrimp Paste

Originated in Hanoi, Bun Dau Mam Tom or Rice Noodles with Fried Tofu and Fermented Shrimp Paste is a simple but very popular in North Vietnam. It has won the heart of all ages not only in North Vietnam but also around the country because of cheap price and great taste. Although some foreigners are aware of fermented shrimp paste, you will find this strange food is so yummy and understand why millions of Vietnamese people have fallen in love with it.

Traditional Bun Dau Mam Tom consists of tender rice noodles, crispy deep-fried tofu cube, shrimp paste dip, herbs and vegetables. In the past, Bun Dau Mam Tom is sold at street food shoulder poles. Dinners sit on small chairs and tables right on the pavement to enjoy this food. In recent days, more and more food stalls and restaurants serving Bun Dau Mam Tom have opened in many regions of Vietnam so that it’s easy for anyone to find a place to enjoy this food. The simple food is decorated more attractively on a flat winnowing basket covered by green banana leaves. Besides deep-fried tofu and herbs, rice noodles are also served with thin boiled pork belly/pig leg slices, boiled pig guts, Vietnamese sausage, Vietnamese head cheese, pork patties and fried minced pork with green rice flakes.

Fermented shrimp paste dip is made from fermented shrimp paste, lemon or kumquat juice, wine, sugar and ground garlic. Dinners can add more lemon or kumquat juice and sliced chili at their wish. There are a lot of herbs and vegetables could be served with Bun Dau Mam Tom, origan is the best herb to eat with this kind of food.

Rice noodles, deep-fried tofu, thin boiled pork belly slices, Vietnamese sausage, fried minced pork with green rice flakes, herbs and sliced cucumber are arranged impressively on green banana leaves on a flat winnowing basket

To eat, dinners just use chopsticks to get little rice noodles, a piece of tofu and some leaves of herbs, cucumber slices and dip into the fermented shrimp paste dip in a small bowl. Then tuck in to feel the amazing taste as well as the perfect blends of crispy tofu, tender noodles, fresh herbs and strange flavor of fermented shrimp paste. The deep-fried tofu and fried minced pork with green rice flakes must be crispy outside but soft inside. They should be served right after being fried at high temperatures. One thing you should not miss is the special fragrance of fermented shrimp paste which makes dinners eat more and more.

The traditional Rice Noodles with Fried Tofu and Fermented Shrimp Paste is not only a food but also a part of Vietnamese culture. The scene of that friends gather to sit around flat baskets of Bun Dau Mam Tom and eat with happy conversations is familiar with us. Sharing foods is popular in Vietnam, we love to eat and drink together. We share foods, drinks and stories around tables. If you have a chance to visit Vietnam, do not miss trying this special food and learn more about our local life and culture.

Vietnamese people usually share Rice Noodles with Fried Tofu and Fermented Shrimp Paste together