According to folk beliefs, fish dishes can bring good luck in the new year. Because in Chinese, fish sounds like the word “surplus”. Therefore, many people believe that eating fish at the beginning of the year will bring good fortune and prosperity.

Even during Tet, whole fish dishes become more popular, expressing the wish for a "smooth start and smooth end" in the coming year.

Among them, fried elephant ear fish is the most popular and favorite dish because of its firm, slightly chewy meat and natural sweet flavor.

This is also one of the popular specialties of the West, not only attracting diners in the region but also being enthusiastically sought out and enjoyed by food lovers in Ho Chi Minh City.

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Tourists can find and enjoy the specialty of fried elephant ear fish in the Western provinces such as Bac Lieu , Vinh Long, Ca Mau, Ben Tre. Photo: Fried elephant ear fish 68

Mr. Pham Tam - owner of a restaurant specializing in serving specialties in Bac Lieu said, to have the best quality dish, it is necessary to choose healthy, fresh elephant ear fish, weighing from 1.2-1.5 kg/fish.

Next, process the fish, clean the intestines, keep the scales intact. Wash the fish, drain and fry. “This dish is not too complicated to prepare but requires the chef to be experienced and skillful.

The fish must be fried in a large pan filled with oil and the oil must be boiling before adding the fish. During the frying process, do not touch the chopsticks or turn the fish many times to avoid peeling off the scales or breaking the fish,” said Mr. Tam.

Fish must be fried skillfully so that the shell is intact and crispy and the meat is not soaked in oil. Photo: Quoc Kiet

The restaurant owner also revealed that the chef must feel the heat of the oil and adjust the heat accordingly so that the fried fish is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and does not absorb oil, avoiding a greasy feeling.

Besides, timing is also quite important, enough for the fish to cook evenly. If fried for too long, the fish meat will be dry. Standard fried elephant ear fish must have an eye-catching golden color, crispy shell, firm meat, and fragrant aroma.

Fried fish is placed on a plate, with some scallion oil and roasted peanuts.

This dish is best eaten hot, served with rice paper, vermicelli and raw vegetables and indispensable fish sauce with garlic and chili, a characteristic sweet and sour taste. Photo: Fly Food

Mr. Tam said that the fried elephant ear fish dish is a favorite of many diners, especially during Tet. These days, his restaurant is always crowded with customers, both for dine-in and take-out.

“Near Tet, the restaurant served about 70-80 portions of fried elephant ear fish. As soon as the fish was fried, customers came to take it all away.

For dine-in customers, the chef will start frying the food after the customer orders it and serve it hot to ensure delicious flavor," the restaurant owner added.

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Fried elephant ear fish is a popular dish at the beginning of the year because it is believed to bring fortune and luck. Photo: Fried elephant ear fish 68

Ms. Minh Ly (in Vinh Long ) commented that the fried elephant ear fish dish is attractive because of the natural flavor of the fish without the need for any additional spices. The fish scales are crispy, the meat is soft and moist, so it is easy to eat, suitable for both the elderly and children.

“The fried elephant ear fish dish is served with raw vegetables, so it has a refreshing taste and you can eat a lot without getting tired of it. Because it can prevent boredom and cool down, this dish is very popular at the beginning of the year.

Every year during Tet, whenever I have guests from far away, I buy this dish to treat everyone to enjoy," she said.

As Tet approaches, the famous specialty of the Northwest region becomes even more scarce. Many gourmet diners in Hanoi are willing to spend several million to buy it to enjoy at the end of the year and treat distinguished guests.