Cơm tấm (Vietnamese:[kəːmtə̌m]) is aVietnamese dish made fromrice with fractured rice grains.Tấm refers to thebroken rice grains, whilecơm refers to cooked rice.[1][2] Although there are varied names likecơm tấm Sài Gòn (Saigon broken rice), particularly forSaigon,[1] the main ingredients remain the same for most cases.
Vietnamese scallions and oil garnish used on top of Cơm Tấm
Cơm Tấm stall on the street.
In its early days, Cơm Tấm was a popular dish among poor rice farmers in the Mekong Delta due to their economic circumstances.[3] During bad rice seasons, these people did not have enough good rice to sell, so they usedbroken rice to cook. Broken rice is fragments of rice grains broken during the handling processes and was regarded as inferior rice at the time.[4] Broken rice was used solely because it was readily available in the farmers' houses and could fill their stomachs for a long time.[3]
Since Vietnam's urbanization in the first half of the 20th century, Cơm Tấm became popular across Southern provinces, includingSaigon.[5][4][6] 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 steamedomelette 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.[3][7] Nowadays, Cơm Tấm is popular among everyone, and is a "standardized part of the [Saigon] culture",[5][6] so much that there is a common metaphorical saying (translated from Vietnamese): "Saigon people eat Cơm Tấm like Ha Noi people eatPho".[8][9][10]
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:[11][12][13][14][7][15]
Broken Rice – a traditionally cheaper grade of rice produced by damage in milling.[4][14] It is mainly used as a food industry ingredient in America and Europe, but inWest Africa andSoutheast Asia is used for direct human consumption.[4] Broken rice is fragmented, not defective; there is nothing wrong with it.[16] 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 steamedomelet with meatloaf. Nowadays this may be substituted with an omelet or fried egg[17]
Scallion and oil garnish – chopped scallion lightly fried in heated oil until softened (serve both scallion and oil)[18]
Various vegetables, such as sliced cucumber and tomato, andpickled 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[6][11]
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.[19][20]
Cơm Tấm is one of 10 Vietnamese dishes recognized by the Asia Record Organisation (ARO) for their important culinary value to the international community.[21]
^abThanh NienHot Spots 5 Jan 2012 "With your craftsmanship in hand, return to Saigon for a master class in clay-pot cooking, crafting cơm tấm (broken rice), caramelized pork belly,"
^Freeman, Meera (2002).The flavours of Vietnam. Nhân, Lê Văn. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Black Inc.ISBN1-86395-283-7.OCLC55104782.
^abcSon, Nam (2000).Đất Gia Định - Bến Nghé Xưa & Người Sài Gòn. Ho Chi Minh City: Tre Publishing House.ISBN978-604-1-12851-4.
^Nancie McDermottQuick 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..."
