– Bun ken Phu Quoc is an extremely unique dish for tourists on their journey to explore Phu Quoc island.
– A rustic, simple dish but contains a special flavor that makes tourists extremely fond of it. Bun Ken, also known as Bun Khen, is a dish originating from the Khmer people. The word “ken” in Khmer refers to dishes that use coconut milk and the yellow color of turmeric.
– Bun Ken is popular in many areas of the southwestern provinces, especially in Ha Tien and Phu Quoc. While the version of Bun Ken in An Giang, Can Tho… uses snakehead fish to cook the broth, the characteristic of Bun Ken in Phu Quoc is to use barracuda or silver fish. These two typical fish are rarely found in other areas.
– The ingredients to make Bun Ken are quite simple, however not everyone can cook a bowl of Bun Ken in the most traditional way.
– After being cleaned, the fish will be removed and shredded.
– Next, people will saute onions, garlic and lemongrass, then add the fish meat and stir-fry until it is firm and has an attractive aroma. This method helps the fish meat to be more flavorful and delicious.
– Bun Ken broth cannot lack spices such as five-spice powder, curry powder and coconut milk. Put this mixture in a pot and simmer until the water thickens.
– When serving each bowl of noodles, the seller will blanch the noodles, add spices, raw bean sprouts, herbs, shredded papaya, broth, and fish.
– A bowl of Bun Ken attracts diners with the eye-catching colors of many toppings. When eating, diners just need to mix the ingredients well and can enjoy it right away.
– In Phu Quoc, tourists can easily find shops selling bun ken all over the island during their trip.
