In a district of Quang Ngai, there are many products, including wild vegetables with funny names and strange but delicious rock snails.

Rau Ranh is known as a straight stem plant with long leaves similar to soursop leaves but thinner. This plant grows on low hills along streams, some plants are a few meters tall.

In early summer, the trees grow many new leaves, people often break off branches to take the young shoots home. Rock snails are a species of snail that live in the crevices of rocks throughout the streams.

These two types "make friends" together in the menu of the highlanders, especially on these hot summer days, having a bowl of stone snail and water spinach soup to cool down is great.

In this season, along the main road Provincial Road 622B through Tra Bong district or throughout the traditional markets of the district, everywhere you can see bundles of fresh green vegetables, next to baskets of snails shining in the early morning sun.

Rau ranh, ốc đá, cá nậu nguồn, la liệt sản vật làm nên món lạ miệng ở một huyện của Quảng Ngãi- Ảnh 1.

Rock snails are small but for the people of Tra Bong district, Quang Ngai province, they are a specialty snail that can be processed into many delicious dishes.

For the people of the highlands, “rau ran oc da is ca nau nguon” (a source of fish) is a food present in every family meal. After going to the fields, people walk under the forest canopy to pick fresh young vegetables, wade in streams to catch snails in the clear blue water.

Bring the snails home and soak them in rice water to remove the slime. Then, scrub the snails clean, cut off the tail, wash them and then put them in a basket to drain. Cut the lemongrass stalks near the base into small pieces and add the chili and marinate with the snails and spices for about ten minutes.

Gently pick the young leaves, tear them into small pieces and wash them. Boil a little cooking oil and put the snails in the pot, stir well with chopsticks. Next, pour water into the pot, bring to a boil and add the vegetables. After about 5 minutes, season to taste and remove from the stove. You will have a rustic, flavorful soup.

Dark green leaves lie next to black-brown snails, hiding the sweet flavor in the rustic soup. Slowly enjoy the soft, nutty greens with a sweet and slightly astringent taste, take another spoonful of soup, then pick up the snails in the bowl, gently suck the intestines out of the shell and slowly chew.

Rau ranh, ốc đá, cá nậu nguồn, la liệt sản vật làm nên món lạ miệng ở một huyện của Quảng Ngãi- Ảnh 2.

An attractive plate of stir-fried rock snails.

The sweetness of the snail meat blends with the spiciness of chili, lemongrass and the taste of moss from the streams in the great forest, a deliciousness that is hard to compare. It is simple and rustic like the temperament of the people in this highland region, yet strangely familiar and attractive.

The western mountainous region of Quang Nam has many interesting things. The nature here is majestic and poetic. The life of the people here is simple and peaceful.

The people live in harmony with each other in the mountains and forests with unique cultural traditions. They have delicious dishes from the mountains and forests, of which the speciality of rock snail and vegetable soup will surely conquer visitors at the first try.

Coming to Tra Bong (Quang Ngai) this season, visitors should not forget to try the stone snail vegetable soup to enjoy the cool, sweet aroma of nature in this rustic soup and feel all the love of the land and people in the highlands.

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