In the culinary world of Hue, sour shrimp paste is a humble yet beloved dish that captures the hearts of many. With its delicate balance of flavors, Hue sour shrimp paste is a specialty often chosen as a gift for loved ones by tourists.

Sour shrimp paste, with its tangy and spicy flavor from the brine, combined with the sweetness of shrimp, creates a perfect dipping sauce for any dish. Let’s explore what makes this sour shrimp paste dish exciting and how to make this specialty right at home with Vietnampeace.com

1. Sour shrimp paste – a simple yet flavorful dipping sauce from Hue

Hue’s sour shrimp paste is straightforward to eat and famous thanks to Hue’s having shrimp available all year round. Different months correspond to various types of shrimp, such as February and October being land shrimp season and March and May being river shrimp season… Therefore, the locals have devised ways to create the famous Hue sour shrimp paste that is fragrant and delicious.

What to eat with sour shrimp paste? With its unique tangy and sweet flavor, Hue sour shrimp paste can be paired with many other dishes such as white rice, square sticky rice cakes, cylindrical glutinous rice cakes, or used as a dipping sauce for boiled meat, which is also delicious. Not only is it used as a side dish to enhance the appeal of other dishes, but this sour shrimp paste also adds aesthetic value to your dining table with its beautiful color.

2. How to make Hue sour shrimp paste and storage tips

Making authentic Hue-style sour shrimp paste is quite simple; you can make this delicious dish yourself by following these steps:

2.1. Ingredients for making Hue sour shrimp paste

• 1 kg fresh shrimp (choose earthy shrimp for better taste)
• 2 tablespoons glutinous rice flour
• 150 grams ginger
• 50 grams garlic
• 50 grams chili
• 1 cup good-quality white wine
• Young guava leaves
• Thin bamboo strips, necessary spices

2.2. Instructions for preparing Hue-style sour shrimp paste

Step 1: Preparing

• Peel and clean the ginger, then slice it thinly. To keep the ginger white, soak it in diluted saltwater after slicing.
• Peel and slice the garlic thinly.
• Remove the seeds from the chili and slice it into pieces.
• For the shrimp, rinse and clean them, remove the heads, and pull out the black vein along the back of the shrimp. Then, prepare a clean basin, pour white wine, and soak the shrimp. After about 30 minutes, remove the shrimp and let them drain.
• Boil two tablespoons of glutinous rice flour with 200 ml of water until the mixture turns translucent and thickens, then turn off the heat and let it cool.

Step 2: Seasoning

• Put the shrimp in a large clean bowl, then add the prepared ginger, garlic, chili, two tablespoons of sugar, and two tablespoons of salt, and mix well.
• Once all the spices are evenly mixed, add the cooked glutinous rice flour and mix again.

Step 3: Making authentic Hue sour shrimp paste

• Prepare a transparent plastic or glass jar to easily observe the finished product. After washing, let the new jar dry.
• Layer the shrimp in the jar, then cover the top with young guava leaves. You can use bamboo strips or a tray to press down on the ingredients to prevent them from floating.
• Take the jar of shrimp outside and let it dry in the sun for 5 to 7 days. You can make the shrimp more or less sour depending on your taste preference. Store it in a cool place or refrigerate it for gradual consumption if it tastes to your liking.

2.3. Storing Hue sour shrimp paste

After completing the sour shrimp paste, storing the product is also very important. If stored in a cool, airy place, you can keep the sour shrimp paste for two months. If stored in the refrigerator, the product can last even longer. If it’s papaya sour shrimp paste, you should consume it within a week to avoid health issues.

Note: What not to eat with sour shrimp paste? Eating sour shrimp paste with similar sour salads or dishes is not advisable, as it will diminish the taste of this dish.

3. Where to buy delicious Hue sour shrimp paste

Where to buy Hue sour shrimp paste? In Hue, a box of sour shrimp paste sold to tourists as gifts ranges from 60,000 to 100,000 VND. You can find this delicious dish in Hue at significant markets such as Dong Ba Market or at the following famous addresses:

3.1. Tam Duc Sour Shrimp Paste

Address: Markets and supermarkets in Hue
Price: 100,000 VND/jar

3.2. Trong Tin Sour Shrimp Paste

Address: 21 Dang Tran Con, Hue City
Price: 110,000 VND/jar

3.3. Aunt Can’s Sour Shrimp Paste

Address: Specialties markets in Hue
Price: 60,000 VND/jar

3.4. Perfume River Sour Shrimp Paste

Address: Markets and supermarkets selling specialties in Hue
Price: 70,000 VND/jar

3.5. Aunt Ri’s Sour Shrimp Paste

Address: 184 Tang Bat Ho, Hue City
Price: 75,000 VND/jar

In addition to the intriguing sour shrimp paste dish, when visiting Hue, you can also enjoy many other specialty dishes such as beef noodles, clam rice, and pressed cakes… and visit famous landmarks such as Thien Mu Pagoda, the complex of Hue’s imperial tombs, Perfume River – Trang Tien Bridge…

Above are some interesting facts about sour shrimp paste and simple tips for making this dish at home. Hopefully, with this detailed article, you can create your jar of fragrant, delicious, authentic Hue sour shrimp paste for yourself and your family. Or, if you want to “sample” what to eat in Hue, you can enjoy this specialty dish on-site by planning your Hue trip today!