Pork rib congee: a tasty porridge of Hanoi: Tours & Food

Hanoi’s pork rib congee is a traditional dish familiar to the capital’s residents and many tourists. This dish is not only famous for its delicious taste but also for its high nutritional value and convenience when enjoying it. This article will help you better understand Hanoi’s special pork rib congee from its origin, how to prepare it, and famous places to enjoy it.

Origin and history of pork rib congee

Hanoi’s pork rib congee originates from the old streets of the capital. This has long been a popular breakfast dish for Hanoi people, often sold at street vendors or small roadside shops, becoming an indispensable part of Hanoi’s street food scene. People of the capital have long considered this a familiar, close dish, associated with cold mornings or rainy afternoons.

This dish has been around for a long time, perhaps since the French colonial period. It was initially cooked in families and gradually became a popular dish, appearing in markets and street vendors. People eat pork rib congee not only to fill their stomachs but also to feel the warmth and peace from hot bowls of congee.

This dish is not only a morning dish but can also be enjoyed at any time of the day. With the development of society, congee is increasingly diverse but still retains the traditional flavor. From street vendors to small restaurants, this dish has become an indispensable part of the lives of Hanoi people.

Preparation ingredient for pork rib congee

• Pork ribs: Choose young ribs with less fat so that when cooking congee, the ribs will be soft and sweet.
• Rice: You should choose good, sticky rice so that when cooking congee, the congee will be soft and smooth without being greasy.
• Water use: Cooked from pork bones for natural sweetness.
• Spice: Scallions, pepper, fish sauce, salt, MSG.
• Serve together: Fried onions, fried congee, and herbs.

How to cook:

• Prepare ribs: Pork ribs are washed, cut into bite-sized pieces, and then boiled to remove impurities and odors. After that, the ribs are rinsed with cold water.
• Cook broth: After being boiled, the ribs are simmered in water to get the broth. The simmering process must take place for a long time (about 1-2 hours) so that the broth is naturally sweet from the bones. During the simmering process, skim the foam regularly to keep the broth clear.
• Congee: The rice is washed, soaked in water to bloom and then put into the pot of broth where the ribs have been simmered. The congee is cooked over low heat, stirring regularly so that the congee does not stick and reaches a certain smoothness. Cooking time for congee is about 30-40 minutes until the rice is soft and the congee has a moderate consistency.
• Complete: When the congee has thickened, put the ribs into the congee pot, season to taste with fish sauce, salt and MSG. Before turning off the stove, you can add a little green onion to add flavor.

Each family and each restaurant has its secrets to creating the unique flavor of congee. Some places also add mushrooms, northern eggs, or dried shrimp to add richness to the dish. Its flavor depends a lot on the way the bones are simmered, the choice of rice and the ratio of spices. A delicious bowl of congee is the perfect combination of the smoothness of the congee, the sweetness of the ribs and the aroma of the spices.

Enjoy pork rib congee

Hanoi’s pork rib congee is often eaten with crispy stir-fry, fragrant fried onions and a little ground pepper. This dish is suitable to enjoy in the morning or on cold days, bringing a warm and pleasant feeling. When eating, you can add some herbs such as Chinese coriander and chopped green onions to increase the appeal. A bowl of hot, fragrant congee with soft pieces of spare ribs, combined with the crunchy taste of fried rice will satisfy even the most demanding diners.

This dish is not only a simple dish but also contains many childhood memories of Hanoi people. On winter mornings, sitting next to a basket of congee, inhaling the delicious flavors, and feeling the cold creeping through each breath, all create a very special feeling.

In addition to enjoying congee at the restaurant, many Hanoians also have the habit of cooking congee at home. Each family has its recipe, with family secrets to create a unique flavor. Women and mothers often wake up early to prepare a pot of delicious pork rib congee for the whole family. A hot bowl of congee, with the sweet taste of the bones and the softness of the rice, has become an indispensable part of the breakfast of many Hanoi families.

Famous addresses have pork rib congee

Pork rib congee of Hang Bo

Located on Hang Bo Street, the congee shop here is famous for its rich broth, crispy cartilage ribs and delicious stir-fry. The restaurant is open from early morning to late night, always attracting a large number of diners because of its rich flavors and dedicated service style. Each bowl of congee here is carefully cared for, from choosing the ingredients to the cooking process.

Pork rib congee of Dong Xuan Market

Dong Xuan Market is not only a busy shopping place but also a culinary paradise. The congee here always attracts a large number of diners because of its quality and affordable price. You can easily find a congee shop right at this market, with delicious, hot bowls of congee, served with crispy stir-fry. The flavor of congee at Dong Xuan Market always makes diners remember it forever.

Pork rib congee of Ly Quoc Su

The congee shop on Ly Quoc Su Street is also an ideal destination for those who want to enjoy this dish. The congee here stands out with its sweetness from the bones, crispy stir-fry and attentive service. The restaurant is open from morning to afternoon, always crowded but service quality is still guaranteed. The taste of congee at Ly Quoc Su is highly appreciated by many people because of the sophistication in the way of preparation and the freshness of the ingredients.

Pork rib congee of Bach Mai

Bach Mai congee shop is also a famous address, especially attracting students and office workers. The congee here is famous for its sweetness from the bones, tender ribs, not dry and affordable price. Bach Mai congee shop is always crowded, especially in the morning and evening. Many people have become regular customers of the restaurant because of the unique flavor and friendliness of the owner.

Pork rib congee of Tran Xuan Soan

Tran Xuan Soan congee is a favorite address of many Hanoi people. The congee here has a rich flavor, crispy texture, and fragrant fried onions. The shop is open from early morning until late at night, always bustling with customers. Each bowl of congee here is carefully cared for, from choosing the ingredients to the cooking process.

Nutritional value of pork rib congee

Hanoi’s pork rib congee is a nutritious dish, suitable for all ages. Plain rice provides energy from carbohydrates, pork ribs are rich in protein and minerals. In addition, this congee is easy to digest, suitable for both the elderly and children. Congee also contains many vitamins and minerals from green onions, pepper and herbs. This is a nutritious dish, helps the body replenish necessary energy and nutrients, especially in the morning.

This dish also has the effect of warming the stomach, is easy to digest, and is suitable for people who have just recovered from illness, the elderly and children. Nutrients from pork ribs and ordinary rice provide enough energy for an effective working day. At the same time, spices such as onions and pepper also have the effect of stimulating digestion and enhancing resistance.

This dish is also chosen by many people as a weight loss dish because it is low in calories, helping to maintain a stable weight. For those who practice sports, congee provides enough necessary energy without causing a heavy stomach. This is also an ideal dish for cold days, helping the body keep warm and increase resistance.

Culture of enjoying pork rib congee

This not only a dish but also a part of Hanoi’s culinary culture. Enjoying congee is enjoying a part of the soul of Hanoi’s streets. Each bowl of congee is not only a perfect combination of ingredients but also care and meticulousness in each step of processing.

Hanoi people have the habit of eating congee in the morning or evening. That’s when street vendors selling congee appear on every street. People eat pork rib congee not only to fill their stomachs but also to feel the soul of Hanoi and the love of the sellers.

On winter mornings, people in the capital often go to congee bowls to find some warmth. A bowl of hot, fragrant congee, along with crispy fried stir-fry and fragrant fried onions, all blend to create a unique, unforgettable flavor.

Congee not only appears on street vendors but also in family meals. Each family has different ways of cooking congee, creating diverse flavors but all retaining the characteristics of Hanoi’s pork rib congee. On cold mornings, the whole family gathers around a bowl of hot congee, eating and chatting, creating a cozy, cohesive atmosphere.

Variations of pork rib congee

With the development of cuisine, Hanoi’s pork rib congee also has many diverse variations. In addition to traditional congee, there are also rib cartilage congee, northern egg ribs, and dried shrimp ribs, etc. Each type has its unique flavor, meeting the needs and preferences of each diner.

Rib cartilage congee

This is a special variation of traditional pork rib congee. Crispy pork cartilage, simmered with congee, creates a unique and attractive flavor, often served with crispy fried noodles, fried onions and herbs.

Pork rib congee with Bac Thao egg

The combination of pork rib congee and Chinese eggs creates a rich, unique flavor. Northern herbs eggs have a fatty, fleshy taste, combined with soft congee and ribs, creating an attractive dish.

Pork rib congee with dried shrimp

The combination of congee, ribs and dried shrimp creates a rich, delicious flavor. Dried shrimp are torn into small pieces, simmered with congee, creating a nutritious and attractive dish.

Conclusion

Hanoi’s pork rib congee is not only a delicious dish but also a symbol of the capital’s street food culture. No matter where you go or where you go, the taste of this dish in Hanoi always warms the hearts of expatriates and is the pride of the Hanoi people. If you have the opportunity to come to Hanoi, you must try this special dish to fully feel the flavor of the land of a thousand years of civilization. That sweet, rich flavor will certainly leave a deep impression in the hearts of every diner, making them remember it forever.

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