Ha Long squid cake is one of the famous specialties of Ha Long sea, Quang Ninh, and is considered the pinnacle of Northern seafood cuisine. With the crispy, rich and delicious flavor of fresh squid, Ha Long squid cake not only captivates the hearts of local people but also conquers many domestic and foreign diners. Let's discover the uniqueness of this squid cake dish through the following article.
History and Origin of Ha Long Squid Cake
Ha Long squid cake has existed for a long time and is a dish closely associated with the lives of people in the coastal area of Quang Ninh. Fresh squid from Ha Long Bay is caught and pounded by hand, creating a crispy, chewy texture and a unique flavor. This dish was originally only made during holidays, Tet or important events, but later became a popular dish and is loved everywhere thanks to its special flavor that cannot be found anywhere else.
Typical Ingredients of Ha Long Squid Cake
Ha Long squid rolls are made from fresh ingredients, especially cuttlefish – fresh squid caught directly from Ha Long Bay. Below are the main ingredients to make this famous squid roll.
Fresh Squid – Main Ingredient
Cuttlefish is a type of squid with a thick body, crispy and sweet meat, and is the main ingredient for making squid cakes. The squid is caught from the sea of Ha Long, then cleaned and pounded by hand, creating a chewy texture and a unique flavor. Fresh and delicious squid is an important factor that helps squid cakes have a special flavor, completely different from squid cakes in other places.
Bold Spices
In addition to fresh squid, squid cakes are also combined with spices such as onions, garlic, pepper, and fish sauce to enhance the flavor. These ingredients are mixed well with hand-pounded squid, creating a savory, delicious taste, highlighting the seafood flavor of squid cakes.
How to Make Ha Long Squid Cake with Standard Flavor
To make a standard Ha Long squid cake, the maker needs to pound the squid by hand instead of using a blender. This process helps the squid to have a natural chewy and crispy texture. Below is how to make Ha Long squid cake that you can refer to.
Materials Needed
- Fresh squid: 500g
- Shallots: 2 bulbs
- Garlic: 3 cloves
- Pepper, fish sauce, cooking oil
Steps to Take
Step 1: Prepare the squid
Wash the squid, remove the skin and organs, then cut into small pieces. Finely chop the shallots and garlic.
Step 2: Pound the squid
After being sliced, the squid is pounded by hand in a mortar with onions, garlic and pepper. Pounding the squid by hand helps the squid retain its toughness, crispiness and prevents it from falling apart when fried.
Step 3: Shape and fry
After pounding, the squid is shaped into flat round patties. Heat oil in a pan and fry the squid patties until golden brown and crispy.
Step 4: Enjoy
Squid cake can be eaten with rice, vermicelli or rice rolls. Fried squid cake is hot, crispy, has the natural sweetness of squid and the characteristic aroma of spices.
Ha Long Squid Cake – The Beauty of Coastal Cuisine
Ha Long squid cake is not only a delicious dish but also the pride of the people of Quang Ninh. The rich, delicious flavor of fresh hand-pounded squid combined with traditional processing techniques has created a difference, helping squid cake become a famous specialty of the Northern coastal region. This is not only a dish in family meals but also a meaningful gift to give on special occasions.
Ha Long squid cake
Ha Long squid cake is a unique seafood specialty, imbued with the flavor of the Northern sea. With meticulous preparation and hand-pounding squid technique, this dish has conquered many diners. If you have the opportunity to visit Ha Long, do not forget to enjoy squid cake to fully experience the delicious flavor of this specialty and bring it back as a gift for family and friends.
