Boiled Chicken - A Simple yet Unique Taste of Vietnamese food
Chicken in Vietnamese Culture
Boiled chicken - a very popular dish in Vietnam, especially during Tet Holiday!
Rooted in a wet rice civilization, the Vietnamese have a profound connection with nature, identified by their association with key animals such as the chicken, which ranks among the six most representative animals in their culture, alongside the buffalo, pig, goat, and horse.
The domestication of chickens dates back centuries, making them a vital part of Vietnamese daily life. This is evident in various cultural practices:
The Custom of Fortune Telling with Chicken Feet
In Vietnamese culture, the feet of a chosen rooster (the one offered to the gods on New Year's Eve) are believed to reveal the fortunes for the coming year of each family member.
Interpreting the messages hidden in a rooster's feet requires the expertise of an experienced elder. Generally, well-formed yellow feet with clustered claws are seen as favorable. According to traditional beliefs, "chickens use three claws to dig the soil for food and four claws to defend against threats. When a rooster's claws are clustered, it symbolizes selfless dedication."
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The chicken feet, which indicate positive signs, are often hung from the kitchen's ceiling until the next New Year's Eve in hopes of attracting good fortune to the family.
Understanding Chickens in Vietnamese Society
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Chickens provide numerous benefits, including being a nutritious food source, serving as a natural alarm clock (Vietnamese farmers wake with the chicken's morning crow), and having spiritual significance. In Vietnamese beliefs, roosters symbolize a divine relationship as they embody five virtues:
- Knowledge (Văn): The rooster's crest resembles the hat worn by ancient scholars.
- Martial Art (Vũ): Its spurs and beaks are viewed as formidable weapons for protection.
- Bravery (Dũng): Roosters serve as guardians for hens and chicks.
- Care (Nhân): A rooster can mate with multiple hens.
- Prestige (Tín): A rooster reliably crows on time, regardless of the weather.
These attributes underscore the essential role of chickens in daily Vietnamese life.
Chicken During Tet
During Tet, boiled roosters hold significant importance—they are often seen as symbols of purity and are a preferred offering to ancestors.
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The roosters selected for Tet must meet strict criteria: bright red crests, smooth feathers, and small legs, which indicate strength. After boiling, the rooster is typically displayed on the family altar holding a rose in its beak. In some households, a carrot sculpted into a flower may serve as a stand-in for the rose. Whether it’s a rose or a crafted carrot, it represents the Vietnamese concept of yin and yang, where the flower embodies yin (feminine essence).
Here’s how to prepare boiled chicken:
Ingredients
- 1 chicken
- 1 dried lime peel
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ginger
Directions
- Clean the chicken using salt and water, then allow it to dry.
- In a pot, combine 3 liters of water, ginger, salt, and the chicken, and boil for 30 minutes.
- Garnish the chicken with chopped lemon leaves before serving.
Vietnam's Most Common Seeds & Nuts For New Year
During Tet, every family in Vietnam prepares a special tray of snack to offer guests, containing a variety candies, biscuits, jam, fruits; and roasted nuts are indispensable components off the tray.
Essenstial Vietnamese New Year's Food
Vietnamese people have a very good habit of saving, which are reflected by the regular meals – rice with a main dishes (meat or fish/shrimp), a vegetable food and a bowl of soup.
Mung Bean Pudding - Vietnamese Che Kho
To many Hanoian generations, mung bean pudding has become a familiar dish which always presents on the ancestors’ altar at New Year’s Eve.
