Broken Rice Long Xuyen Style

🍽️ Broken Rice Long Xuyen Style – A Taste of An Giang’s Soul

Among Vietnam’s countless regional dishes, few reflect local character as clearly as Broken Rice Long Xuyen Style (Cơm Tấm Long Xuyên). Originating from Long Xuyên City in An Giang Province, this dish offers a gentler, more delicate take on the classic Saigon broken rice, with unique flavors that showcase the essence of the Mekong Delta.

While Saigon’s version features grilled pork chops with a smoky aroma, Long Xuyen-style broken rice uses thinly sliced pork simmered and seasoned to perfection — creating a meal that’s lighter, softer, and elegantly balanced.

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🌾 What Makes Long Xuyen Broken Rice Special

The secret lies in the pork. Instead of using large grilled chops (sườn nướng), cooks in Long Xuyen prefer boiled or sautéed thin pork slices. These tender slices are often mixed with shredded pork skin (bì) and lightly flavored with garlic, pepper, and caramelized fish sauce, creating a subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with broken rice.

The dish is then topped with a slice of Vietnamese steamed egg meatloaf (chả trứng hấp) or a fried egg, alongside pickled vegetables, cucumber, and tomato for balance.

What truly defines this version is its special fish sauce (nước mắm Long Xuyên). Unlike the stronger Saigon-style dipping sauce, the Long Xuyen fish sauce is sweeter and lighter, almost syrupy, making it pleasant enough to pour directly over the rice without overwhelming the palate.

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🍖 Ingredients for Broken Rice Long Xuyen Style

Main components:

• 2 cups broken rice

• 150g thinly sliced pork shoulder or pork belly

• 2 tbsp fish sauce

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1 tbsp cooking oil

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1 tsp black pepper

For the toppings:

• Shredded pork skin (bì)

• Steamed egg meatloaf (chả trứng hấp) or fried egg

• Pickled carrot and daikon (đồ chua)

• Fresh cucumber and tomato slices

For the sweet fish sauce:

• 3 tbsp fish sauce

• 3 tbsp water

• 2 tbsp sugar

• ½ tbsp lime juice or vinegar

• Minced garlic and chili (to taste)

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🔥 How to Prepare It

1. Cook the rice:
   Rinse and steam the broken rice until soft and fluffy.

2. Prepare the pork:
   Slice the pork thinly, then marinate with fish sauce, sugar, garlic, and pepper for 30 minutes.
   Heat oil in a pan and sauté until the meat turns slightly golden and caramelized.

3. Make the fish sauce:
   Dissolve sugar in warm water, then add fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, and chili. The result should be sweet and aromatic.

4. Assemble the dish:
   Place the rice on a plate, top with sautéed pork, shredded pork skin, and egg loaf. Garnish with pickles, cucumber, and drizzle fish sauce on top before serving.

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🥢 Long Xuyen vs. Saigon Broken Rice

The Long Xuyen version represents the gentleness and subtle sweetness of the Mekong Delta, where food is meant to be comforting and balanced. Meanwhile, Saigon’s version is bold and smoky, fitting the city’s dynamic energy.

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🥗 Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

💡 Tip: For a lighter meal, use lean pork slices and reduce the amount of sugar in the fish sauce.

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🌸 A Gentle Flavor from the Mekong Delta

Broken Rice Long Xuyen Style is more than just a meal — it’s a story of the southern countryside, where locals value softness, sweetness, and comfort in their food. Every bite tells of the Mekong’s easygoing pace of life, with flavors that soothe rather than excite.

If you ever visit An Giang or the Mekong Delta, don’t miss this regional treasure. Simple yet soulful, Cơm Tấm Long Xuyên is Vietnam’s broken rice at its most heartwarming.