Delicious spotted scat porridge is a rare treat
The spotted scat can be found in Tam Giang lagoon and is famously delicious and nutritious so it has high economic value. One kilogram of spotted scat costs from 400,000-500,000 VND. This is a type of natural specialty fish caught by the lagoon inhabitants from April to August of the lunar calendar every year.
Today, apart from catching them in the wild, spotted scat is still raised by fishermen in the lagoon. The spotted scat is not big. The biggest one is only the size of an adult hand. The scales on a spotted scat form eye-catching light brown spots.
The spotted scat has thick flesh, not a lot of bones and is very tasty, fragrant, sweet and soft. In particular, because spotted scat often lives in clean water and likes to eat small creatures, the fish intestines have a lot of white fat mixed with a slightly bitter fish gall which a gourmet would surely fancy.
According to traditional medicine and folk experiences, spotted scat has the effect of treating chronic insomnia, improving the health of the elderly, children and women, as well as women who have just given birth. Spotted scat can be cooked in sour soups, quick stews..., and served with warm rice.
Spotted scat steamed with onions is served as “drinking” dish..., but the best is spotted scat cooked with lotus seed porridge. Those who have once enjoyed it will not forget the charming taste of this dish.
Preparing spotted scat porridge is quite simple. Fresh spotted scat after being processed will be marinated with crushed pepper, red shallots and a touch of fish sauce from Thuan An sea. While waiting for the fish to absorb the seasonings, cook the porridge.
The ingredients used to cook porridge include fragrant rice that has just been harvested with some fresh lotus seeds of the famous Tinh Tam lake in Hue. When the rice and lotus seeds are cooked through, put the marinated spotted scat in.
Boil for a couple of minutes and the spotted scat porridge is done. You can adjust the taste again and turn off the heat. By now, the whole kitchen would be filled with a particularly attractive fragrance.
Ladle the porridge into a bowl and sprinkle some green onion and cilantro. Decorate with "chili flowers" to make the bowl of porridge more eye-catching. Spotted scat porridge is best when served hot.
Enjoying the hot spotted scat porridge, you will fall in love with its taste. The fragrant aroma of rice, of lotus seeds blends with the rich aroma of spices. Tasting the lotus seed spotted scat porridge you will be pleasantly surprised by the sweetness of the spotted scat, the rich but elegant taste of lotus seed, the fresh and glutinous taste of the new rice blending together ...
Travelling on the Tam Giang lagoon along the waves on beautiful little boats feels like floating on the leaves, breathing in the cool fresh air of a vast blue sky. Please visit any floating restaurant made from natural friendly materials such as bamboo and rattan leaves ... to enjoy a bowl of spotted scat porridge.
You will have an unforgettable impression of Hue spotted scat porridge, which not only is delicious and full of flavor, but also is a rare treat not available elsewhere.
Story and photos: Ngoc Hoa