Phu Quoc-style stirred noodle soup.

Bun quay, “stirred noodle soup,” on Phu Quoc is in fact a “variation” of shrimp noodle soup from Binh Dinh Province or Kon Tum-style noodle soup. Yet by adding new ingredients and preparing it in their own way, Phu Quoc residents has created a specialty for the island.

The name of the dish comes from the way it is made. A local cook would pour boiling broth into a bowl containing shrimp or fish paste and noodles, and then stir them all, well and hard. Next, the bowl of the noodle soup is topped with minced scallions and pepper. Fresh ingredients give a special tasty flavor to the dish.

Diners can see local cooks prepare the dish right on the spot. After being soaked in water, rice is ground into pulp. The substance is next turned into noodles using a press before being put in boiling water.

One interesting thing is diners can make their own dipping sauce, which includes salt, sugar, pepper, chili, monosodium glutamate, and kumquat juice. The dipping sauce must be stirred well, too, which also gives rise to the name of the dish.

The rustic dish has impressed most food lovers. The soft, chewy noodles are in perfect concordance with shrimp, fish paste and broth. On Phu Quoc, bun quay is often served as a breakfast dish.

Source: Saigon Times

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