Bún riêu is another very popular and flavor-packed Vietnamese rice noodle soup, with soup flavored with tomatoes, shrimp paste, fish sauce and a meat broth. It features tofu usually, but the unique addition to this soup is the “riêu” or meatballs, made of pork, shrimp, crab, and prawns. And would it really be a Vietnamese soup if it wasn’t loaded…
This bánh kẹp lá dứa recipe from my mom will let you fill your home with that same aroma from Vietnamese shops with waffles and put your housemates into a waffley trance too. These are technically pizzelles, which end up thin and crispy, yet still pliable when it’s hot off the press–it is AMAZING. If you’re looking for the traditional…
Originally designed as on-the-go street food, bánh mì is packed with flavor, a touch of fat balanced with light pickles, delicious and super affordable. When you can get it with fresh bread, it is unmatched. The Vietnamese bánh mì is a must-have for any sandwich lover. This bánh mì recipe is a follow up to the recipe I last posted,…
At Vietnamese sandwich shops, you’ll find a dizzying number of meat options like grilled chicken, grilled beef, sardines, and even some Chinese-influenced options like xíu mại. However, with Vietnamese sandwiches, pork seems to be king–you’ll always see pork options like chả lụa (meatloaf), thịt nướng (grilled pork), nem nướng (ground & grilled pork), bì (shredded pork skin), and combinations of these.…
Vietnamese mango salad (gỏi xoài) is a vibrant dish featuring green mangoes, shrimp, and is highlighted with fresh herbs like mint, thai basil and cilantro. It’s a mouth-watering combination of sweet, sour, salty with lots of contrasts in texture. Disclaimer: this is supposed to be a very simple salad. The one we’re making here has a bit of extras to make it fancier.…
Chè chuối is a warm, Vietnamese pudding-like dessert featuring bananas and rich coconut cream. The classic base of coconut overlaps many tasty Vietnamese You can easily make this at home in less than an hour! Chè in Vietnamese, refers to sweet desserts which are liquid such as drinks, pudding, or even types of ‘soup.’ So chè chuối you could say is a type of…
What is bún thang? My knowledge of the Vietnamese language is about on par with my grandma’s English, so this gives us lots of opportunities to learn from each other. She watches Viet news and Korean dramas which have a surprising amount of English in them. The latest term I explained to her was “poker face” hah! I asked her what bún thang means…
This is an easy 3-ingredient green papaya salad recipe (Gỏi Đu Đủ Khô Bò) you can throw together in a few minutes. There’s no cooking required, just easy prep so you can get to snacking. Green papaya and beef jerky salad is a light appetizer, a great choice for a snack or appetizer. My mom says used to buy this from food carts…
It’s got that irresistible crispy, yet delicate, golden brown crust. And the inside of the bánh xèo is filled with delicious flavors: pork and shrimp, and sprinklings of mung bean, onions and bean sprouts. This crowd pleaser is a hot-off-the-pan, hands-on food meant to be wrapped in veggies and dipped in a flavorful dipping sauce. Vietnamese bánh xèo, sometimes called…
Bún bò Huế is a hidden Vietnamese gem that has yet to “make it” in mainstream American cuisine. It’s a rich and spicy soup with deep layers of flavor. This Central Vietnamese soup is paired with tender slices of beef and pork, then topped with lots of fresh herbs. I consulted my favorite Vietnamese cook–Mom–on how to make bún bò Huế. And to find out subleties that make BBH…
Making onion rings at home is SUPER easy. It’s much more fool-proof than when I made sweet potato fries (even though I eventually found a way!). This recipe does a dry, then wet coating, then finally dipped in panko bread crumbs for that flaky and extra crispy layer. Hot out of the fryer, how can you resist a crunchy, warm onion ring fried to…
This is perfect, simple cold weather soup. If you haven’t built up the courage to try the bitter melon soup I posted the other week, Vietnamese chicken soup with elbow macaroni might be a simpler start :). What’s that you say? Elbow macaroni isn’t Vietnamese?…hmm. You’re right, you’d probably never find this soup served in Vietnam or in any Vietnamese restaurants.…
Spaghetti squash is something I’ve seen online for years before finally giving a try and it certainly paid off. Many years back, my girlfriend was actually craving squash carbonara this week, so I wanted to give it a try. Turns out, this squash is delicious and a great healthy alternative to pasta and we’ve been eating this ever since! There…
If you know the joys of bún thịt nướng (Vietnamese grilled pork and noodles), you’ll love this recipe. Savory, flavor-packed grilled pork meatballs over noodles, with a medley of aromatic herbs all married together with Vietnamese fish sauce. Aaand it’s easy to make! Let me know you. There are LOTS of fresh veggies in many Vietnamese dishes, wouldn’t you agree?…
This recipe for fried & stuffed tofu in tomato sauce is a meatified version of the popular Vietnamese dish of tofu in tomato sauce (or Đậu hũ dồn thịt sốt cà chua). That version is great, and probably the one I’ve had more of, however, the version you’re going to make in this post is more substantial–enough that you don’t…
This Japanese dish of agedashi tofu is a delightful little treat of floured and deep fried tofu, sitting in a flavorful broth you take sips of with each tofu bite. It’s great as a little side dish but is something that should be eaten immediately after served so the deep fried layer stays as crisp as possible. Some background I’ll…
My trip to Oregon was made possible because of my super-generous cousins Chris and Erica. They opened up their home up to me, gave me tours, fed me (!), put up with my insatiable junk food appetite & other nonsense I threw at them 🙂 The main event here was to celebrate [the talented] Chris‘ fancy backyard 30th birthday bash. On their days…
This stuffed bitter melon soup is a delicious Vietnamese “soup”, stuffed with pork, mushroom, and mung bean noodles, simmered until the melon softens in a light chicken broth. As a kid, my parents couldn’t get me to eat this stuff, but I’ve really grown to love this dish. This dish is typically a heck yes, or heck no situation for…