Roasted grasshoppers, the alluring crunchiness

Grasshoppers are closely intertwined with childhood memories of Vietnamese people. Roasted grasshoppers, moreover, have long made a rice harvest’s delicacy and a nutritious dish on many family's meals.
April 21, 2020 | 16:01
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Roasted grasshopper is a highly-nutritious rustic dish in Vietnam (Photo: Nhan Dan Online)

Grasshoppers can be found in the fields all year round. However, they are especially abundant during rice harvest season, from May to September, according to Nhan Dan Online. Many locals living in countrysides would catch handfuls of grasshoppers right in the fields and make a delicious dinner.

Vietnamese also cook grasshoppers in different ways, such as stir-fried grasshoppers with chili lemongrass, grasshopper hotpot, etc., but for many, roasted grasshoppers still the most delicious one, which is both simple in preparing, cooking and in its unique flavor. It is also made in the most rustic, traditional cooking style, according to Nui Ba Vi.

roasted grasshoppers the alluring crunchiness
Lemon leaves add a lot to the fragrance and flavor of the dish (Photo: Sai Gon Tiep Thi)
roasted grasshoppers the alluring crunchiness
(Photo: Pinterest)

To make an on-point roasted grasshopper dish, one must pour boiled water over the grasshopers first and shook the container with force, after 15 minutes remove the wings, antennas, hard legs, and organs and let the insect drain completely. Before deep-frying the grasshoppers, local people usually sprinkle some salts in to enhance the flavor. Grasshoppers are roasted in a pan until they turn brown-yellow. Sliced lemon leaves will be added.

The result is a tasty, crunchy dish with high nutritional value that can be served in daily meals or as side dishes on drinking occasions. Even though food cooked from grasshopers is no longer as popular now as in the past, they are still a special delicacy served in many restaurants.

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