Local flavor

Grilled sea urchin with spring onions

A great combination of pork fat and tasty sea urchin meat intermingled with the fragrant aroma of spring onions and roasted peanuts, the dish is a delicacy of fishermen in the central coastal region.

Sea urchins live mainly in the sea from the central coastal region to Phu Quoc island.  They live in the area of coral and rock because their food is seaweed.  Sea urchins grow rapidly from the third to the sixth lunar months so their meat is most delicious during this time. There are many types of urchins, but the black sphere-shaped one with the size of an orange is the best. 


It is very simple to cook the dish. Stir chopped green onions with the grease from pork fat. Roast the peanuts until they turn brownish yellow and crispy and then smash them to small pieces. Remove the thorns and clean the fresh sea urchins, cut them in half, and grill them over hot charcoal. Top the tasty grilled sea urchins with roasted peanuts, grease and onions.

The dish is best served with salt and black pepper mixed with lemon, or with mustard. Sea urchin porridge is also a delicious and nutritious dish. 


Sea urchins provide calcium that help strengthen one’s health. The species has a high economic value, selling for between 20,000 and 30,000 dong/piece. 

 
Story: Son Nghia - Photos: Nguyen Luan
 

The Essence of Pho - Heritage in the Digital Age

The Essence of Pho - Heritage in the Digital Age

Pho Festival 2025, themed “The essence of Vietnamese Pho - A Heritage in the Digital era,” recently unfolded at the historic Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi. Organized by the Hanoi City Convention Center in partnership with the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center and other collaborators, the event marked a significant step forward in both preserving and promoting Vietnam’s most iconic dish.

Top