Fat, fragrant grilled frog in Cambodian style makes tourists 'crazy' in An Giang

When mentioning the specialties of the "land of seven mountains" (Tri Ton district, An Giang province), people often immediately remember familiar names such as grilled chicken, mashed papaya, grilled beef rice... However, in this land there is also an equally attractive dish, loved by many diners. That is Cambodian-style grilled frog.

At around 4 pm, a series of charcoal stoves grilling frogs along Provincial Road 948 towards Tri Ton district were filled with smoke, the fragrant smell of grilled frogs wafted straight into the nose, forcing passersby to stop.

Ms. Thao, owner of a grilled frog restaurant here, said that this dish originated from the Khmer people and is prepared with Cambodian flavors.

After being cleaned, the frogs are stuffed with stuffing to make them look plump. Photo: Tran Tuyen

Regarding the processing method, after the frog is drained, the frog's legs are minced with pork belly, mixed with many spices such as the leaves of the genus Chuc (same family as the leaves of the lemon tree), turmeric, and lemongrass to create fragrance, then stuffed into the frog's belly, then put in bamboo clips and grilled over charcoal.

When grilled, the frog will be brushed with a special sauce to create a delicious, rich flavor with a very distinctive golden yellow color.

Cambodian-style grilled frog dish featured at local food fair. Photo: Tran Tuyen

In addition, one of the factors that makes this dish attractive is the dipping sauce made from young tamarind mixed with ginger and garlic. The harmonious combination of spices in the dipping sauce makes it impossible for diners to resist the unique flavor of the dish.

Grilled frog - an irresistible specialty of the "land of seven mountains". Photo: Tran Tuyen

A portion of grilled frog will include frog skewers with sauce at a fairly cheap price, only from 15,000 to 20,000 VND for a plump grilled frog skewer. Diners can freely buy snacks to take home or eat with rice, both are delicious.

The fragrant, golden grilled frog attracts attention at first sight. Photo: Tran Tuyen

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hien (26 years old, living in Can Tho ) said that she and her family are crazy about this specialty. Every time she comes to An Giang, she stops by Tri Ton to enjoy grilled frog, and every time she finds it delicious. On the weekend, going on a tour of the green mountains and enjoying delicious mountain dishes is a wonderful experience.

Ta Pa Lake, located in Nui To commune, Tri Ton district, An Giang province, is likened to the Western version of "Tuyet Tinh Coc" with clear turquoise water reflecting the surrounding cliffs, as beautiful as a fairyland.

Source