Da Nang Herring Salad: Authentic Central Vietnam Recipe

Da Nang herring salad is a specialty dish that captures the essence of the sea, made from fresh herring combined with ingredients like roasted rice powder, vinegar, lemon, and fresh herbs. This dish is not only appealing but also completely free of any fishy smell, creating a unique culinary experience for diners.

The Unique Charm of Da Nang Herring Salad

Da Nang herring salad, also known as Nam O fish salad, originates from the Nam O fishing village – a centuries-old village in Da Nang. While various types of fish such as sardines, anchovies, and mackerel can be used, herring remains the best choice for making salad due to its sweet, rich, and flavorful flesh.

Nam O Herring Salad

Ingredients and Preparation of Da Nang Herring Salad

1. Ingredients Needed

To make Da Nang herring salad, you will need the following ingredients:

• Fresh herring: About the size of two fingers, caught early in the morning.
• Fresh herbs: Lettuce, bean sprouts, shredded banana blossom, gynostemma, perilla, wild banana, green mango, cucumber, sliced star fruit.
• Seasonings: Lemon, vinegar, salt, sugar, chili, ginger, garlic, crushed peanuts, toasted sesame seeds.
• Nam O fish sauce: A special type of fish sauce famous in the region.

2. Steps to Follow

Step 1: Preparing the Herring

• After catching, clean the herring by removing scales, cutting off the head, gutting, and deboning.
• Rinse with clean water, add a bit of salt and vinegar to remove any fishy smell.
• Slice into thin, bite-sized pieces.

Step 2: Making Dry Herring Salad

• Curing the fish: Use lemon and vinegar to cure the fish, then squeeze out the excess water.
• Marinating: Mix the fish with finely chopped chili, ginger, roasted rice powder, and toasted sesame seeds. This helps to eliminate any fishy smell and enhance the flavor of the dish.

Step 3: Making Wet Herring Salad

• Preparing the broth: Mix Nam O fish sauce with ginger, garlic, finely chopped chili, and sugar. Boil the mixture until it thickens.
• Soaking the fish: Soak the thinly sliced fish in the tangy, spicy, and sweet broth to enhance its flavor.

Herring Salad

Enjoying Da Nang Herring Salad

Whether it’s dry or wet herring salad, the dish is enjoyed with toasted rice paper (nem paper) and various fresh herbs. You can roll the herring salad with nem paper, add fresh herbs, and dip it in a sauce made with peanuts and toasted sesame seeds to savor the natural sweetness of the herring, the richness of the fish sauce, and the freshness of the herbs.

Another way to enjoy this dish is to put the herring salad and broth into a bowl, add toasted nem paper and a variety of fresh herbs, then mix well. The sweetness of the herring, the spiciness of the broth, and the tartness of the green banana and star fruit blend together to create a renowned specialty of Da Nang.

Herring Salad

Conclusion

Da Nang herring salad is not only a delicious dish but also a unique culinary symbol of Central Vietnam. To make an authentic herring salad, attention to detail in selecting ingredients and meticulous preparation is essential. Try making this dish at home or visit Nam O fishing village to experience the distinctive flavor of Da Nang herring salad.

Wishing you success and enjoyable culinary experiences!