Banh Da of Ha Giang - A Unique Traditional Dish of the Plateau Land

Not only famous for its majestic mountain passes and terraced fields that look like paintings, Ha Giang also hides a unique specialty known as "Banh Da." So, what is Ha Giang's Banh Da? How is it made and enjoyed? Follow the article below by Ha Giang Open Tour to learn more about this special dish!

1. What is Ha Giang's Banh Da?

Ha Giang's Banh Da is actually a rustic cake made from upland glutinous rice. The cake is large, about the size of a brick, with an elongated shape, pure white color, and a hardness similar to the pebbles by the stream. The name "Banh Da" originates from this characteristic. Its flavor is fragrant, nutty, and slightly sweet.

Banh Da - A Specialty Dish in Ha Giang

In the past, when the highlands didn't have electricity or refrigerators, people used to throw Banh Da into the stream to preserve it. After tiring days working in the fields, they would retrieve the cakes to eat. Thus, Banh Da is not just an ordinary dish but also symbolizes the difficult and challenging times the people of Ha Giang faced.

2. Discovering the Process of Making Banh Da in Ha Giang

To create delicious, fragrant, and chewy Banh Da, the people of Ha Giang must undergo a meticulous and detailed process, showcasing their diligence, creativity, and love for their traditional dish.

2.1. Preparing Ingredients

The main ingredient for making Banh Da is upland glutinous rice, a specialty rice grown on the towering terraced fields, where the sunlight and mountain air imbue the rice with a unique, fragrant flavor. The rice is carefully selected to ensure the best quality for making the cake.

2.2. Step-by-Step Guide

• Step 1: Soak the rice in water for about 4-5 hours and then let it dry.

• Step 2: After the rice is dry, grind it into flour and steam the rice flour until it's cooked.

• Step 3: Pound the rice until it reaches a certain level of stickiness, then shape it into large cakes, about the size of a brick, weighing around 1kg each. The cakes need to be shaped quickly and consistently to prevent the dough from cooling and sticking together.

Making Banh Da in Ha Giang involves several steps.

• Step 4: Place the cakes in boxes or cover them with straw for about three days until they develop a slight moldy smell, then soak them in the stream. This preservation method was used by the highland people to store the cakes and retrieve them when food supplies ran low.

2.3. Tips for Making Banh Da

Making authentic Ha Giang Banh Da is no easy task. It requires time and effort, and during the process, a few key points must be noted:

• Choose upland glutinous rice for the best flavor and texture.

• Soak the rice for the appropriate amount of time to ensure it's soft and easy to grind.

• Shape the cakes to a moderate size, not too big or too small.

• Boil the cakes in very hot water to cook them evenly.

• Ferment the cakes in straw to develop a distinctive aroma.

• Soak the cakes in stream water or well water to make them soft and chewy.

• Dry the cakes under sunlight until they are completely hardened.

3. How to Properly Eat Ha Giang's Banh Da

To fully enjoy the flavor of Ha Giang's Banh Da, it’s important to know how to eat it. After retrieving the cakes from the stream, locals use a brush or loofah to scrub off any moss or algae until the cakes are white again. Depending on personal preferences, you can try the following delicious preparation methods:

3.1. Eating Like Bun Mam

Banh Da with mam (fermented fish sauce) is a light, nutritious breakfast or lunch that you can easily prepare at home. The dish combines the salty taste of mam, the spiciness of chili, the sourness of lime, and the crispy, chewy texture of Banh Da, making it unforgettable.

Here’s how to make it: Slice the Banh Da into strands and boil them until soft. Then mix with seasoning, including mam, chili, and lime. You can adjust the seasoning to your liking.

3.2. Fried Banh Da

Simply slice the Banh Da into thin slices and fry them in cooking oil or use an air fryer. As the cake fries, the fragrant aroma of upland glutinous rice fills the air. It's best to dip the fried Banh Da in chili sauce or fish sauce for a more flavorful experience.

Fried Banh Da is easy to make.

3.3. Making Banh Da Thang Den

When mentioning Ha Giang, you may have heard of the specialty dish Thang Den. You can make this dish using Banh Da. First, slice the Banh Da into strands, boil until soft, then transfer to a bowl. Next, make a syrup by melting sugar and adding water and ginger. Once the syrup boils, pour it over the Banh Da and top with shredded coconut and roasted peanuts for a complete dish.

Ha Giang's Banh Da is not only a delicious dish but also a unique culinary symbol of the local people. Each Banh Da cake is a product of meticulous effort, craftsmanship, and dedication. Visitors to Ha Giang should not miss out on tasting this specialty to truly experience the flavors of the Dong Van Karst Plateau!