Cơm tấm

History

In its early days, Cơm Tấm was a popular dish among poor rice farmers in the Mekong Delta due to their economic circumstances. During bad rice seasons, these people did not have enough good rice to sell, so they used broken rice to cook. Broken rice is fragments of rice grains broken during the handling processes and was regarded as inferior rice at the time. Broken rice was used solely because it was readily available in the farmers' houses and could fill their stomachs for a long time.

Since Vietnam's urbanization in the first half of the 20th century, Cơm Tấm became popular across Southern provinces, including Saigon. When Saigon was bustling with many people from many countries around the world, food sellers adapted Cơm Tấm to be more suitable for foreign customers like the French, American, Chinese, and Indian. As a result, grilled pork, chả trứng (Vietnamese-style steamed omelette with pork) was added to Cơm Tấm. Also, the portion started being served on plates with a fork instead of in traditional bowls with chopsticks. Nowadays, Cơm Tấm is popular among everyone, and is a "standardized part of the [Saigon] culture", so much that there is a common metaphorical saying (translated from Vietnamese): "Saigon people eat Cơm Tấm like Ha Noi people eat Pho".

Ingredients

Although there are many variations of Cơm Tấm that have different ingredients and styles, a popular, featured Cơm Tấm dish commonly known as "Cơm Tấm Sườn Bì Chả" has the following ingredients:

• Broken Rice – a traditionally cheaper grade of rice produced by damage in milling. It is mainly used as a food industry ingredient in America and Europe, but in West Africa and Southeast Asia is used for direct human consumption. Broken rice is fragmented, not defective; there is nothing wrong with it. This is the main ingredient of Cơm Tấm.
• Sườn nướng – Translated as grilled pork ribs, but there are two common varieties: grilled pork chops, and grilled pork ribs, which is also called "sườn non".
• Bì – thin strands of pork and cooked pork skin seasoned with roast rice powder
• Chả trứng – Vietnamese-style steamed omelet with meatloaf. Nowadays this may be substituted with an omelet or fried egg
• Scallion and oil garnish – chopped scallion lightly fried in heated oil until softened (serve both scallion and oil)
• Various vegetables, such as sliced cucumber and tomato, and pickled vegetables such as carrot and radish pickles
• Mixed fish sauce (Nước mắm pha) – a sweet, sour, salty, savory or spicy sauce served in a small bowl beside the Cơm Tấm dish. This ingredient is commonly considered an important part of a Cơm Tấm dish

Serving

Although chopsticks are commonly used by Vietnamese, Cơm Tấm are enjoyed with a fork and spoon; and although the mixed fish sauce is commonly used for dipping in other Vietnamese dishes, for Cơm Tấm, the sauce is for spreading onto the dish as needed.

Honors

Cơm Tấm is one of 10 Vietnamese dishes recognized by the Asia Record Organisation (ARO) for their important culinary value to the international community.

References

References

1. [[Thanh Nien]] {{usurped
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4. Marton, Renee. (15 September 2014). "Rice : a global history".
5. (2019-09-13). "How Broken Rice Went From Poor to Popular".
6. "Saigon's Classic: Broken Rice".
7. (2017-07-19). "Nghề Bếp Á Âu".
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9. "Điểm danh 7 món ăn đặc sản Sài Gòn bạn nhất định phải thử một lần trong đời".
10. Trí, Dân. (2 January 2015). "Cơm tấm Sài Gòn".
11. (2019-04-25). "What is broken rice? Here 's What you should Know !!!".
12. adminict. (2015-03-02). "Com Tam – Traditional Vietnamese Broken Rice Food".
13. Cook, Karla. (2003-11-23). "RESTAURANTS; Benefits of Vietnamese". The New York Times.
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15. (19 August 2018). "Broken Rice – What Is It?".
16. [https://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/2002/may/rice ars.usda.gov Agriculture Research, May 2002]
17. Nancie McDermott ''Quick and Easy Vietnamese'' 2012 "OMELET WITH BEAN THREAD NOODLES AND PORK - chatrung - Order com tam bi in a Vietnamese café serving rice dishes, and you'll get a fabulous feast of rice along with shredded pork, peppery pork chops, and a chunk of this tasty omelet, which is called cha trung when it is served by itself..."
18. (2012-12-03). "Vietnamese Scallions & Oil Garnish Recipe (Mỡ Hành)".
19. Pulido, Izzy. (2019-04-06). "Saigon Street Food: Broken Rice (Com Tam)".
20. VCCorp.vn. (2018-08-10). "Không chỉ có phở mà đặc sản cơm tấm Việt Nam cũng được đài truyền hình nước ngoài ca ngợi hết lời".
21. (2012-08-05). "Top ten Vietnamese dishes win Asian records".