Những món đặc sản lạ miệng tại Sa Pa

Với cảnh đẹp hùng vĩ của Sa Pa, không chỉ có khí hậu trong lành mà còn có vị ngon độc đáo từ những món ăn đặc sản. Du khách đến đây không chỉ để ngắm cảnh mà còn để thưởng thức những hương vị tuyệt vời của núi rừng. Hãy dành thời gian thưởng thức những món ngon nổi tiếng khi đến Sa Pa.

Những món đặc sản ngon của Sa Pa

1. Cá suối nướng

Uncomplicated yet enticing, the grilled stream fish in Sapa stands out with its rustic flavors, characteristic of Northwest mountain cuisine.

Sapa's stream fish, praised for its tender bones and firm meat, is considered the most delicious in the Northwest region. Varieties like carp and flower fish are abundant, and despite their relatively small size, they pack a punch of flavor.

To savor the authentic taste of grilled stream fish, skewer the freshly caught fish and grill them over a wood stove, adding a touch of spices. With these simple steps, you'll have a fragrant and delectable grilled fish ready to enjoy.

Additionally, local residents often grill the fish right at the stream and bring them home to enjoy gradually or sell them at local markets. This makes it easy for tourists to procure this appealing specialty of Sapa.

2. Ginger-infused Meat

Among the renowned delicacies of Sapa, do not overlook ginger-infused meat – a unique specialty of the Nung Din ethnic community, often prepared during the festive seasons.

The main ingredients for creating this distinctive ginger-infused meat are humble. Locals utilize various bones, from spine to fresh rib bones (unwashed). These bones are finely minced.

Subsequently, a substantial amount of ginger, cleaned and finely crushed, is mixed with the minced bones, salt, and the mixture is kneaded thoroughly by hand. The meat is then placed in a fermentation jar with a glossy lid, water is poured over it, and it is sealed with a woolen cover to maintain the temperature, preventing discoloration. When needed, it is taken out for preparation.

Ginger-infused meat is usually stewed or steamed. Those who have had the pleasure of tasting this Sapa specialty dish will undoubtedly remember the sweet flavor of the bone meat intertwined with the rich salty taste of salt, enhanced by the warm spiciness of aged ginger. This flavor has warmed the hearts of many tourists in the cold highland region.

3. Five-Color Sticky Rice

Five-Color Sticky Rice – one of the traditional dishes of the Tay ethnic group during festive occasions. The main ingredient for this dish is the famous yellow-flowered sticky rice from the Tu Le region. According to the locals, only this type of sticky rice produces sticky and fragrant grains.

The sticky rice is typically cooked with five main colors: white, red, green, purple, and yellow, symbolizing the five elements – white for Metal, green for Wood, purple (substituting for black) for Water, red for Fire, and yellow for Earth.

To achieve the appealing colors for the sticky rice, the cook must be meticulous in selecting coloring ingredients.

For the white color, they use the natural color of rice; red is made from gac fruit or red rice leaves; green comes from ginger or green rice leaves; yellow is obtained from crushed turmeric, and purple uses black rice leaves or cam leaves. After cooking, the finished sticky rice is arranged on a plate resembling a colorful flower.

According to the beliefs of the Tay people, those who eat five-color sticky rice during festivals and holidays will encounter much luck and goodness. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to travel to Sapa during the Lunar New Year, make sure to enjoy this unique dish.

4. Sour Bamboo Shoots

Among the famous Sapa specialties, sour bamboo shoots are one of the most unique and meaningful delicacies for distant travelers. Sa Pa sour bamboo shoots are typically made from the shoots of the vau tree.

When the shoots are about 20-30cm long, fresh vau shoots are snapped, brought home to peel and clean, then sliced into small pieces. Afterward, the cook places them in bamboo tubes. Finally, they seal the bamboo tubes tightly to avoid exposure to air and water. Approximately 20 days to a month later, the bamboo shoots will reach the right level of sourness and are officially ready for consumption.

Sapa sour bamboo shoots have a refreshing sour taste, making them suitable for cooking soup with fish or meat. The delicious and non-cloying flavor will stimulate the taste buds of the diners. Therefore, sour bamboo shoots are one of the preferred Sa Pa specialties for many people to enjoy.

5. Sticky Rice Cake

Sticky Rice Cake – a traditional cake of the local people has long become one of the enticing Sapa specialties. Travelers often enjoy and buy this type of cake as a gift for family, friends, and relatives.

To make these delicious sticky rice cakes, locals only use local glutinous rice. During processing, they soak the glutinous rice in cold water for about 2 hours, then pour it onto a tray to drain the water and put it in a rice cooker.

After being cooked, the sticky rice is placed in a mortar for manual grinding, and occasionally, they grease the pestle to prevent sticking. When the rice is finely ground and kneaded into a dough, the maker scoops out portions of the dough and begins shaping them into individual pieces. That's how the people of Sapa create flavorful sticky rice cakes.

These beautifully round and shiny sticky rice cakes are attractive to diners (Photo collection)(5)
Normally, this type of cake can be kept for 1 week. But if you want to preserve it longer (about 2 – 3 months), you just need to flatten the cake and sprinkle dry glutinous rice powder on the surface as a coating. When serving, you can steam or fry the cake. It will remain chewy and fragrant as if it were freshly made.

Indulging in sticky rice cakes is quite simple. You can dip them in syrup immediately or deep-fry them. The cakes have the distinctive fragrance of glutinous rice and are very chewy.

If you have the opportunity to travel to Sapa, don't forget to savor and buy some sticky rice cakes as gifts for your loved ones. Sticky rice cakes will become a truly meaningful gift. Surely, Sapa will be the ideal dining destination for tourists to enjoy local specialties.