Winter Melon and Minced Pork Side Soup - Thursday, May 29, 2014

Dish of the day: Canh Bi Dao Thit Bam (Vietnamese Green Squash/Winter Melon Soup with minced pork)

Where it’s found: My home stay in the Mekong Delta – served with our dinner.

Also as a side at many com tam (rice dish) food vendors and restaurants; Rice dishes always come with a small soup on the side, and this one is commonly served.

Breaking it down: Winter Melon (some call it Vietnamese green squash), minced/ground pork, scallions, cilantro, fish sauce, salt and pepper

*It can also be made with zucchini

**Often also made with shrimp

Today’s dish of the day, Canh Bi Dao Thit Bam comes from the Mekong Delta, where Patrick, me and two other couples had an overnight home stay.  We played cards, listened to music and enjoyed the fresh air on the deck overlooking the water. Dinner was excellent and full of traditional Vietnamese foods, including:

-          Canh Bi Dao Thit Bam - Winter melon and minced pork soup

-          Bun - Rice noodles

-          Lettuce (for making wraps with the stir-fry and the shrimp pancakes)

-          Stir-fry noodles with vegetables

-          Banh Tom - Fried and crispy mini shrimp pancakes

-          Fresh fruit for dessert

Winter melon is not eaten in its raw form, but rather in soups and stir-fries.  It tastes and looks much like zucchini and when I first saw it and ate it, that’s what I thought it was.  Being a side soup, it is nice and light and fresh-tasting.