Mì Quảng (also spelled mỳ Quảng), literally "Quảng noodles", is a Vietnamese noodle dish that originated in Quảng Nam Province in central Vietnam. It is one of the region's most popular and well-recognized food items, and is served on various occasions, such as at family parties, death anniversaries, and Tết. It is a common food item in Ðà Nẵng and the surrounding regions, where it is eaten at any time of day.[1]
Ingredients and serving
The main ingredients of mì Quảng are rice noodles, meat, and herbs, most commonly served with a small amount of broth, which is generally infused with turmeric. Peanut oil can also be added to make the dish more flavorful.[2] Wide rice noodles are placed atop a bed of fresh herbs in a bowl (or vice versa), and then warm or lukewarm broth and meat are added. The broth is usually strongly flavored and only a small amount of it is used, generally enough to partially cover the vegetables.[3]
Meats used in the dish may include one or more of the following: shrimp (tôm), pork (thịt heo), chicken (gà), or even fish (cá) or beef (bò). The broth is made by simmering the meat in water or bone broth for a more intense flavor, seasoned with fish sauce, black pepper, shallot and garlic. Turmeric is often added to the broth, giving it a yellowish color.[3][4]
Mì Quảng is commonly garnished with peanuts and toasted sesame rice crackers called bánh tráng mè, which sets the dish apart from other noodle dishes. Additional ingredients may include hard-boiled quail eggs, steamed pork sausage (chả), or shredded pork rinds (tóp mỡ). Lime juice and fresh chili peppers are often used as an added seasoning; other seasonings may include soy sauce or chili sauce.[3][4][5]
Mì Quảng can also be served without broth, as a salad (mì Quảng trộn).[6]
There is a Vietnamese saying about this dish:[7][8]
Thương nhau múc bát chè xanh, Làm tô mì Quảng mời anh xơi cùng.
This couplet describes a girl from Quảng Nam, a province on Vietnam's South Central Coast, who warmly invites her lover to drink a cup of tea and a bowl of mì Quảng, to show him the depth of her love for him.