Mini octopus: A special local food of Ha Long Bay

(VNF) - Mini octopus is specie of octopus. These “mini octopuses” living nestled under the mangrove forest are arrested for food producing by local people as well as tasty and can’t-miss dishes for visitors.

Referring to Ha Long, people think of spring rolls made from cuttle-fish, fried “sa sung”, crab or king-crab dishes. Besides, mini octopus is emerging as a special food that not everyone knows.

Ruoc is actually a type of octopus but under smaller size which live in the little holes in the bay.

The sea in Quang Ninh, less salty than others, is home to an ocean of fresh “ruoc”, a kind of octopus.

Local people of Quang Ninh province often call it as “ruoc” because their shape looks like a thumb.

Mini octopus gradually becomes a special food for tourists in general, not only gourmet.

The time for good mini octopus is from July to October according to lunar calendar. To catch mini octopus, we need use eight-sign cage – a fisherman’s fishing tackle.

There are many ways to cook ruoc and boiled ones are the most traditional dish. The chef always chooses alive ruoc for cooking and then they use salt and water to clean those ruoc.

Local people often boiled ruoc with chili, garlic and lemon in daily meals.

Ruoc can be boiled with guava leaves, sorrel leaves and dotted with shrimp sauce, served with lentils nails, leaves apricots and unripe banana. The dish is great to enjoy with beer or wine.

Before heating mini octopus, the chef will pour clean mini octopus and water over mulberry leaves layer at the bottom of the pot. At the first time of boiling, the chef will shake once time in order to mix mulberry leaves and mini octopus together.

When mini octopus’s color gradually change into pink tentacles curl backwards into small circles, that means mini octopus is good for eating.

This dish will not be delicious without fish sauce with mix of shrimp, chili, garlic and lemon. It is more wonderful to have a little beer or other drinks if you are gourmet. In addition, sour star fruit, green banana and a glass of wine will enhance the flavor of mini octopus.

Unlike sea salt, Ha Long beach with less salty water compared to other beaches boast to have such mini octopus.

You can always taste mini octopus whenever you travel Ha Long Bay all year round. However, the best time for enjoying is from July to October./.

Minh Phuong