cut cubes of silken, soft tofu

What Is Tofu?

You may have heard of tofu in such dishes as mapo tofu of China, soon tofu of Korea, agedashi tofu of Japan, or dau sot ca chua (or the meat-filled version) of Vietnam. Tofu has made its way through Asia and down to southeast Asia eventually becoming important culinary staple throughout. In its many forms–silken, firm, tofu skin–cooked in many…

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soy sauce bottles

What is Soy Sauce?

Soy sauce is made from fermented soybeans and is considered to be a staple condiment in kitchens throughout the world. Nominally associated with Asian food, I’ve found that soy sauce can make a delicious addition to a wide array of dishes. Known for being brown and salty, this briny and fermented sauce first originated in China more than 1,000 years…

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a fully cooked and unwrapped banh gio

Bánh Giò Recipe (Vietnamese Rice & Pork “Dumplings”)

Bánh giò is a originally a steamed street snack from Northern Vietnam. It’s a small, savory snack great any time of the day, made with a rice flour outer layer, ground pork, mushroom and onion filling and all with a special aroma from a banana leaf wrapper. I learned this recipe and technique from my Mom many years ago. Many…

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four different brands of fish sauce

What is Fish Sauce?

Fish sauce. The mere mention of this stuff strikes fear in the hearts of many. It’s an incredibly pungent, fishy concentrated liquid that even southeast Asian cooks knowingly handle with caution. A spilled bottle will undoubtedly leave a very stinky lasting impression. Like a lot of Asian foods in America, this potent flavor powerhouse suffers from the unfortunate stigma of…

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a bowl of bun rieu noodle soup

Bún Riêu Recipe (Vietnamese Crab, Pork & Tomato Noodle Soup)

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…

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stacks of banh kep

Pandan Waffle Recipe / Pizzelle Version (Bánh Kẹp Lá Dứa)

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…

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loaves of Vietnamese banh mi

Bánh Mì Recipe – Vietnamese Sandwiches w/ Pork Belly

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,…

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sliced Vietnamese pork belly

Pork Belly Recipe for Bánh Mì (Vietnamese Sandwiches)

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.…

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Vietnamese Green Mango Salad with Shrimp (Gỏi Xoài)

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.…

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Vietnamese che chuoi

Vietnamese Banana, Coconut & Tapioca Dessert (Chè Chuối)

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…

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bun thang featured image

Bún Thang – Vietnamese Noodle Soup with Chicken, Pork, & Egg

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…

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Viet green papaya salad with dressing

Green Papaya Salad Recipe (Vietnamese Style with Beef Jerky)

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…

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