BackEat & Drink » Food Culture » A Look at Some of Vietnam's Bug-Based Delicacies

A Look at Some of Vietnam's Bug-Based Delicacies

Cultures around the world have included protein-rich insects as part of their diets for thousands of years. While the practice has almost disappeared in the West, insects are still as popular as ever in other parts of the globe, including right here in our fair Vietnam.

Vietnam Net recently published an article detailing Vietnamese delicacies that claim bugs as their main ingredient. Turns out, bugs are not only delicious but eco-friendly!

Steamed glutinous rice with ant eggs: Starting in March of each year, black ant eggs are harvested from trees. After a gentle washing, they are mixed with seasoning, dried onions and then fried in fat. Finally, they are put on a banana leaf and severed with sticky rice.

Stink bugs roasted with lemon leaves: Popular mountainous areas, the bugs are soaked in brine and then boiled in water with bamboo shoots to remove their foul odder. They are then roasted with lemon leaves at high heat until crispy. The same technique is used for cicadas, scorpions and grasshoppers.

Crispy white crickets: As fat as prawns, these crickets are roasted in hot oil with chopped bacon and lemon leaves.

Bee larvae: Packed with vitamins, proteins, minerals, sugars and amino acids, people in the mountainous provinces of Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang and Cao Bang prepare bee larvae in numerous ways (often fried with shallots, fresh ginger and chopped lime leaves).

Coconut worms: Commonly consumed in south-western Vietnam, these worms grown in and feast on coconut trees. Once they fatten up, locals cut down the trees and collect the worms which are soaked in alcohol and cleaned. After being cooked with herbs, fish sauce or butter, they are served with sticky rice.

Hungry yet?

 

[Vietnam Net]

Related Articles

in Food Culture

'Trendy' Elephant Poop Coffee Taking off in Vietnam

Vietnam is known for its cafe chồn, coffee beans that are ingested, pooped out by weasels and sold at prices far higher than the normal variety. Now, a Vietnamese breeder is adopting a similar techniq...

in Food Culture

10 of Hue's Most Delicious Dishes

You probably just finished lunch but this list of 10 iconic dishes from Hue should get you appetite going again. Food Republic’s Laurie Woolever recently visited Vietnam’s imperial capital on the look...

in Food Culture

2 Vietnamese Restaurants in Saigon, Hanoi Named Among Asia's 100 Best

Vietnam’s culinary prowess is no secret, with its traditional dishes helping to draw tourists from all over the globe. 

in Food Culture

5 Of Saigon’s Best Markets

When people think of Saigon, the iconic Bến Thành Market usually comes to mind. But while it’s rich in history, for locals, it’s little more than a tourist attraction. Vietnam Coracle recently took to...

in Food Culture

5 Unique Markets In The Mekong Delta

While the cities of Vietnam become hooked into the global supply chain, their culinary tastes are becoming more homogenous. From pizza to shopping in supermarkets, our diets are slowly moving in line ...

in Food Culture

5 Unique Spins On Phở That Can Be Found In Saigon

Phở is a known commodity. One of Vietnam’s most famous dishes and perhaps one of the world’s most famous soups, there are few mysteries (perhaps other than its origin) when it comes to the delicious b...

Partner Content