I've heard about eating rice mouse in Vietnam (and Thailand) but never tried it before. Naturally, I am curious to give it a try.
Okay... My memory reminds me about the unfortunate incident in Singapore in 1983.
 |
| IRRI International Rice Research Institute photo creative commons 2 license |
Nevertheless, I am confident about mice from rice fields of Vietnam and Thailand.
My first opportunity came when Han got us a dozen rice mouse for lunch at her hometown family home in Hau Giang, Vietnam (about three hours southwest from Ho Chi Minh City or an hour from Can Tho City).
The skinned rodent was heavily marinated in aromatics (e.g. lemongrass) and spice (e.g. chili pepper), its pinkish, lean white meat half submerged in the fiery red looking watery marinade.
I can clearly make out the outline of the little animal sans its head, paws, fur and tail.
Rice mice are sold in the market at around SG$5 per kilo, marginally cheaper than chicken at SG$6 per kilo.
The mice with some of their innards (liver, kidney, etc) intact were slow grilled over smoking charcoal embers.
The ensuing white plumes from the slow grilling mice smelled like grilled chicken with an additional grilled dried cuttlefish aroma.
Slow grilling the mice takes a lot of skill and patience in controlling the heat and turning the mice at the right time. Thanks to Han's dad, our gracious, generous, hospitable host.
I was given first go at the grilled mice, straight off the grill.
"Eat it while it is hot" 😱
Actually, I can't wait to try them 🤭
The mouse meat was soft tender and moist, clean tasting like well grilled chicken wing mid-joint but sans the skin and fat. In that sense, rice mouse meat is superior in my personal opinion.
The sweetness of the mouse meat came through clearly even though the spice and aromatics marination was quite robust, and the outside of the mouse was grilled till dry and slightly charred in some parts. So the grilled rodent tasted sweet, savoury, smokey and spicy. Lots of flavours in layers! I think it tastes better than grilled chicken.
The only downside, if you can call it that, is the rodent is rather bony and its bones are hard and brittle. Just be careful about when eating the mouse.
Nevertheless, during my first time, I ended up eating three 🤭
Enjoyed it so much! 😋
Han deep fried a small batch without the spicy robust marination.
The meaty juicy soft tender deep fried mice tasted sweet overlaid with a slight savoury taste.
Red wine with grilled rice mouse. Give me that anytime.
Written by Tony Boey on 13 Jun 2025
About me
I first tasted it on overseas exercise when I was 20. Unforgettable.
ReplyDeleteNNNNOOOOO chicken rice for you......... for 3........monthssssssss 🤪
ReplyDeleteYeap . Padi Fields Rodents are most tasty, like Chicken meat.
ReplyDeleteyes grandparents used to tell me how they would eat field mice, for survival.
ReplyDeletethere’s also grilled squirrel and vietnam’s famous blood sausage which i think is the tastiest black pudding in the world. the fish they rear in the padi fields is also delicious.
ReplyDelete