“Com nam” (a Vietnamese rice dish
pressed into cylinder or sphere shape) is sold in small alleys in Hanoi by
vendors. This dish is very familiar with Vietnamese people. In the past, “com
nam” was regarded as a popular meal of Vietnamese farmers. “Com nam” was quite
a good lunch for them to recover their strength after a hard working morning in
the field.
Nowadays, “com nam” is often sold
on streets in Hanoi. “Com nam” has become a cheap but delicious rustic gift.
After eating hearty dishes like vermicelli or “pho”, people often look for a
small dish like “com nam” served with roasted sesame and ground nut.
“Com nam” is served with not only
sesame but also other things, such as stewed fish, simmered pork or salted
shredded meat. However, salted roasted sesame (and ground nut) is still the
first choice.
The rice is opaque, soft and used
to wrapped in a beautiful green banana leaf. However, its cover is replaced
with a plastic bag or paper. The salted sesame is roasted light brown and
grated, which has an appealing fragrance. “Com nam” is cut into slices and
served with sesame and/or ground nut. The sweetness of rice combined with the
buttery taste of sesame is so unique that cannot be found anywhere in the
world.
Source:hanoi times
