Vietnam is just as diverse and as unique as any other country in the world. Its cuisine can be divided into different parts because Vietnamese food can differ from region to region! However, what remains true for all regions are the fresh ingredients it uses, their love for herbs and vegetables, and Vietnamese foods are always pleasing to look at!
Attractive for the eyes, mouthwatering smell, and a delightful taste, some Vietnamese foods are so simple to make at home and share with your family and friends!
Starting of with something really easy, Rau muống xào tỏi, meaning stir-fried water spinach with garlic, or simply rau muống is a side dish in Vietnam, sometimes also served as a main dish or a staple food for some families!
Rau muống itself is the Vietnamese name for water spinach, or morning glory, or kangkong, or its scientific name Ipomoea Aquatica. It is generally believed that this easy to grow water plant is native to Southeast Asia and was first cultivated there, hence why most if not all Southeast Asian countries have its own recipe of water spinach.
Vietnamese rau muống is often made with garlic, sugar, oyster sauce, some people may use black pepper for the heat, and some people use cornstarch to thicken.
It’s best to throw away the wilted leaves and trim the hard ends, wash it, then usually it is cut into your desired length. There are some recipes that tell you to blanch the water spinach for a couple minutes, but it is okay not to do so.
On a large pan or wok, sauté the garlic until it is fragrant then toss the morning glory in the pan before adding in the sauce and spices mentioned before and adjust the taste to your heart’s desire. Truly to your heart’s desire as some recipes even added meat such as beef, chicken, or shrimp.
It is simple, savory, and when cooked perfectly it can be crunchy. Serve it with rice as a main dish, or as a side dish to complement your other foods!
Don’t worry if you buy a lot of water spinach and see your pan is totally filled with it, because it will shrink in size when it is cooked!
There are two kinds of spring rolls in Vietnam, the first is the fried one originating from China, while the other is an almost transparent looking roll created from Vietnam itself. It also has many names in Vietnam depending on the region. It is called gỏi cuốn in southern Vietnam, nem cuốn in northern Vietnam, rice paper rolls in the Central region, and “salad roll” or “spring roll” or “summer roll” in the Western region, just like how it is known in English.
The most important ingredient to make gỏi cuốn is the rice paper! Dip the rice paper in warm water for a second or two and do not be slow when arranging your fillings and rolling it! The rice paper will continue to hydrate and it will be too soft and sticky to handle.
There is no rules on what you should fill your gỏi cuốn with even though traditionally it is filled with shrimp or pork and fresh veggies. But you can fill it with whatever meat and veggies you like! Usually fish mints, lettuces, chives, and sometimes rice noodles or vermicelli are used as the filling.
Gỏi cuốn can be eaten just as it is, or it can be dipped in sauces. Vietnamese often use hoisin sauce, peanut sauce, or even nước mắm, a popular dipping sauce in Vietnam.
It is a healthy snack, but it is not wrong to eat it as a main dish too. Whatever is your preferences, it sure is fun to make gỏi cuốn!
Bò lúc lắc is a savory sautéed beef with vegetables from Vietnam, with the name means beef (bò) and shaking (lúc lắc). Beef was a luxury ingredient in the past and this dish was mostly served for the upper class and during formal events, thankfully now it has become a dish everyone can enjoy. It is widely available in many Vietnamese restaurants, however it is easy to make at home too!
The ribeye or tenderloin beef is marinated with fish sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, minced garlic, sugar, cornstarch or tapioca, salt or powdered stock, rice wine vinegar, and black pepper.
For the vegetables itself, onions, bell pepper, lettuce, tomatoes, and watercress are often used to be the bedding for the beef. Certain vegetables are sautéed first, but there are recipes that don’t sauté the vegetables at all.
The marinated beef is then seared in a large pan or wok using a high heat until it is medium rare and the outside is brown. It can then be served on the bed of vegetables, or it is transferred into another pan to be sautéed with vegetables. It depends on the recipe you’re following and your preference!
One of the few egg coffees in the world, Hanoi the capital of Vietnam is home for cà phê trứng! It is said that a man named Nguyen Giang made this egg coffee when there was a shortage of milk, since then the coffee now has become a popular delicacy in its place of birth. The cafe where it was created is also still standing until now!
It is usually made with Vietnamese coffee using a phin filter, however you can use an espresso coffee or any strong coffee you like. For the egg cream, you need to whisk the egg yolks and condensed milk in a bowl. Once it has become light and doubled in volume, carefully place the egg cream on top of your coffee.
It is not overly sweet, yet can be considered as a dessert for some!
Bánh chuối is a sweet banana cake or pudding that can be varied in ingredients, appearance, and texture depending on the recipe and preference.
It is mainly made out of bananas, coconut milk or coconut cream, rice flour, sugar, condensed milk, butter, egg, white bread, and vanilla extract. Depending on whether you bake or steam it, bánh chuối can appear differently too!
There are truly too many ways to make bánh chuối, some soak their bananas in rum first, some soak the bread in coconut cream first. Some sprinkle roasted sesame or grinded peanuts after the cake is finished. Too many to list here one by one, it seems like there’s a new version of bánh chuối whenever you find a new recipe!
There is more to Vietnam than meets the eyes, and definitely a lot more flavorsome Vietnamese food than just pho! Try out more Vietnamese food, share your creation with your friends and family, and tell a Vietnamese friend that you have tried one of their foods. They will surely be delighted to hear the news!