Southern Tet delicacies to tickle holiday taste buds

By Huynh Nhi February 12, 2021 | 08:58 pm PT

Here are some must-have dishes enjoyed by families in southern Vietnam during their Lunar New Year celebrations.

Chef Tran Ngoc Sang from Ho Chi Minh City said that the indispensable dishes in the Southern New Year were cylindric glutinous rice cake (banh tet), pork-stuffed bitter melon soup and braised pork with eggs. A variation of dishes such as shredded chicken, dried shrimp and pickled leeks.

Chef Tran Ngoc Sang from Ho Chi Minh City said the most indispensable dishes for Tet in the south are cylindric glutinous rice cake (banh tet), pork-stuffed bitter melon soup and braised pork with eggs. Dishes like shredded chicken and dried shrimp alongside pickled cu kieu (Chinese onion) are also popular.

The southerners believe that pork-stuffed bitter melon soup can help to dispel the hardships of the previous year and welcome a happy new year. The simple soup with bitter melon cleaned out the pulp and stuffed with grounded pork or fish then added shredded mushrooms and scallions. The broth is sweet and the bitter melon is not too bitter, creating a delicious soup.

Southerners believe pork-stuffed bitter melon soup could help dispel past hardships and welcome in a happy new year.
The simple soup with bitter melon stuffed with grounded pork or fish also features shredded mushrooms and scallions. The broth is typically sweet, creating a delicious contrast with the bitter fruit.

Braised pork is a popular dish, often appearing in the meals on Tet. When Tet approaches, people went to the market and bought delicious cuts of pork belly, dozens of duck eggs and fresh coconut to cook them all in a pot. This yummy dish can be eaten for many days, saving plenty of cooking time and going so well with rice so it is loved by many.

Braised pork is another popular dish, often appearing in Tet meals. As Tet approaches, people visit the market to buy delicious cuts of pork belly, dozens of duck eggs and fresh coconut, all cooked together in a pot.
This yummy dish can be eaten for many days, saving plenty of cooking time and going well with rice.

Tet is not completed without boiled chicken. The chicken’s wings must be tied when boiled, and the outcome is a shiny yellow on the skin without any crack. Then it can be shredded to mix with the salad or cut into slices to enjoy with salt and pepper sauce with lime leaves.

Tet is not complete without boiled chicken. The chicken’s wings must be tied when boiled, with the outcome a shiny yellow skin without a single crack.
It can be shredded to make salad or cut into slices to enjoy with salt and pepper sauce with lime leaves.

Banh tet is a traditional dish that always presents in Southern during Tet. The cake is made of glutinous rice, soft green beans and seasoned meat. Family members often make the cakes together, from packing to boiling them, creating a warm reunion atmosphere on Tet.

Traditional banh tet is always present during a Tet meal in the southern region. The cake is made of glutinous rice, soft green beans and seasoned meat. Family members often make the cakes together, from packing to boiling them, creating a warm reunion atmosphere.

People believe that red is always the color that brings luck and red dishes on Tet holidays are also very popular. In particular, fresh Vietnamese sausage is a dish that many people love on this occasion because of its top-notch taste with less processing time and can be stored for a long time.

People believe the color red brings luck, making red dishes during Tet holidays a very popular choice. In particular, fresh sausage (lap xuong) made from pork is loved by many for its top-notch taste, quick processing time and long shelf life.

In order to complement the dishes on Tet holidays, families often add pickled leeks into the meals. The southerners often eat pickled leeks alongside dried shrimp or braised pork.

In order to complement Tet dishes, families often add pickled cu kieu to meals. Southerners often eat pickled cu kieu alongside dried shrimp or braised pork.

Watermelon is a familiar fruit on the family altar during Tet. Many people believe that if you have a watermelon that is thick, red, juicy and sweet on the new year, it will be the signal of a lucky year. In addition, this is also a fruit with a lot of fiber and vitamins to add to the protein meals on Tet.

Watermelons are a familiar feature on family altars during Tet. Many people believe if you have a watermelon that is thick, red, juicy and sweet on the new year, it will signal luck. In addition, this is also a fruit with a lot of fiber and vitamins that perfectly complements protein-rich Tet meals.

In addition to the savory dishes, Tet dried goods are the must-have. They are made from a variety of fruits and vegetables, with a variety of flavors, colors and aromas. They often go with a hot cup of tea to express one’s wish for a sweet, warm and happy year.

In addition to savory dishes, Tet candied fruits and vegetables (mut) are must-have items.
They are typically made from a variety of fruits and vegetables, with a variety of flavors, colors and aromas. They often go with a hot cup of tea to express one’s wish for a sweet, warm and happy year.

Melon seeds are also familiar on Tet holiday next to the dried goods. They contain many additional nutrients for the body such as vitamins, magnesium, iron. A low-calorie, healthy and suitable dish for those who want to diet on Tet.

Melon seeds are familiar on Tet holidays next to mut. They contain many additional nutrients for the body like vitamins, magnesium and iron The seeds are a low-calorie, healthy and suitable snack for those who want to diet on Tet.