Canh Chua Cá is a delightful Vietnamese soup, a vibrant dish that tantalizes the taste buds with its unique blend of sweet, spicy, and sour notes. At its heart is a tamarind-based broth, carefully crafted to perfection, and enhanced with an array of vegetables. Chunks of pineapple, tomatoes, okra, bean sprouts, and other fresh produce add texture and a burst of flavor to every spoonful.
While catfish is the most common choice for this soup, it is by no means the only option. Adventurous foodies may opt for carp, snakehead fish, eels, or even salmon, each bringing their distinct taste and texture to the dish. No matter the choice of fish, the soup is always garnished with cilantro, adding a touch of herbiness, and served with a side of rice, making it a complete and satisfying meal.
This soup is just one of the many captivating Vietnamese dishes that have captivated taste buds worldwide. Other notable mentions include Bún Riêu, a tomato and crab noodle soup, and Mực Một Nắng, sun-dried squid. Not to mention the mouth-watering Cá Kho Tộ, a caramelized fish delicacy cooked in a clay pot, and Miến Xào Cua, a stir-fry of crab meat and glass noodles that is simply irresistible. Each of these dishes showcases the unique blend of flavors and ingredients that Vietnamese cuisine is renowned for.
But let’s not forget the star of this list, Pempek, an Indonesian masterpiece. This traditional fish cake, made with ground fish meat and tapioca, takes the top spot for its unique texture and flavor. It is a true representation of the diverse and mouth-watering seafood dishes that Southeast Asia has to offer.
The list continues with a delightful array of seafood specialties from across the region. Ikan Bakar of Indonesia, Cereal Prawns and Chilli Crab from Singapore, Daing na Bangus from the Philippines, and Pla Thot from Thailand—each dish is a testament to the rich cultural heritage and culinary creativity of Southeast Asian cuisine.
TasteAtlas, an encyclopedia of flavors and a trusted guide to traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants, has meticulously cataloged over 10,000 foods and drinks from around the world. With their extensive research and mapping, they continue to uncover the globe’s culinary treasures, one delicious dish at a time.
Top 5 delicious soups to sample in Vietnam
Besides the iconic Pho, Vietnam is also home to a numerous selection of delectable soups that would definitely satisfy your taste bud. Here, we suggest you the 5 must-try soups across the country to have an unforgetable experience.
US food blogger criticized for misnaming noodle soup recipe ‘pho’
Tieghan Gerard, the creator of the popular food blog Half Baked Harvest, found herself in hot water after posting a “quick” noodle recipe that she incorrectly called “pho.”
Local cake among world’s top 100 delicious cakes
Tasteatlas, a renowned website for foodies globally, has named Vietnamese dish Pig Skin Cake among its top 100 Most Popular Cakes in the world.
A Vietnamese specialty listed in the world’s best pastry
With its unique texture, beautiful appearance, and outstanding flavor, the Banh da lon (Pig Skin Cake) makes it hard for diners to resist wanting to taste it from their first sight.
Silky ‘pig skin cake’ wins international recognition
If you are familiar with Vietnamese desserts, you may have heard of or even tried bánh da lợn, a kind of steamed tapioca layer cake which originated in the country’s southern region.
