“Pha lau” is Chinese (Chaozhou, Guangdong, China) to reflect to a specific dish of Cantonese. Many years ago, pha lau became familiar to the Vietnamese and was especially popular with people in Saigon. This dish is quick, convenient and delicious snack like “hamburger” of American.
What is pha lau?
Pha lau is a familiar dish of the Chinese made from the viscera of animals boiled down to a soft texture in a salty broth. There are many different types of pha lau such as pork pha lau, chicken or duck pha lau, cow pha lau … In particular, the cow pha lau is the more favorite dish of customers. This is a food that is delicious and has a good price. Visitors of food walking tour can eat pha lau with banh mi (Vietnamese bread), noodle or hot potato chips.
The story about the origin of pha lau
The oral traditional legend is that: In ancient times, the people of Tieu ethnic group were evicted by the Fujian people (China) ran down the land of Chaozhou. It is dry and rocky land and has many animals.
“Lau”, according to the language of Tieu people, means marinating seasonings. This famous dish of Tieu people has been extensively popular throughout VN since Tieu people came here hundreds of years ago.
Some other documents suggest that this dish was formed from the customs of the Tieu people. The pork meat leftover will be marinated and cooked to keep up for a long time.
The recipe of pha lau
The pot of pha lau includes spices such as five-spice powder, cinnamon, star anise, and some medicinal herbs. Any part of pork meat can be cooked, from the pig tongue, pig ear, pig intestine to the pig stomach … Pha lau can be kept all year round. You can make this dish in Vietnam cooking class.
Pha lau is almost done by the pork meat, or chicken, but the most delicious is the duck or beef. To make this dish, the meat is cut into pieces, marinated with the five-flavor powder with white wine and high-quality soy sauce, minced garlic, pepper, salt and white sugar.
Marinated for about an hour, the meat will be fried. Then they are cooked in coconut water until well-cooked. Pha lau is eaten with cucumbers, carrots, white radishes cut thin soaked in vinegar diluted, or pickled with soy sauce with chili, but the best is the chili sauce with garlic.
Pha lau with pickles is served with loaves of bread, or rice. However, drinkers often use it with their friends after a hard day’s work. The crispy and fat pork, chicken, duck or tenderly sweet meat and the smell of Northern medicine easily makes people attracted.
The dish “imported” in Hanoi
Pha lau is a quite strange dish in Hanoi, considered as Northern stewed beef because they are eaten with bread. However, the bold taste of the South is the mix of sweet of meat and the smell of coconut milk.
If you have a chance to come to Hanoi with the guide of Hanoi street food tour, you will enjoy this specialty in some new restaurants.