All posts filed under: rice

Bánh Bèo / Steamed Rice Cakes with Shrimp

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Bánh bèo is a variety of steamed rice cakes or mini pancakes that originated from Hue, Vietnam. Tiny ceramic plates containing a small amount of a simple rice flour batter are steamed and topped with various savory ingredients such as dried shrimp, mung bean, fried pork, croutons, and scallion oil and then drenched in a salty sweet fish sauce. It is the quintessential group meal as everyone gets a chance to customize their rice cakes with various toppings. It’s not uncommon to see stacks of empty plates piled high on the table. This meal can feed a large crowd with few inexpensive ingredients.  The best part is the conversations with friends and family while waiting for the rice cakes to steam. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 6 / Time: 30 minutes to prepare, 8 minutes to steam each batch of rice cakes Ingredients: 20 jumbo shrimps 4 cups of water 2 and 1/2 cup of Bánh Bèo flour mix (approximately 1 package available online or at any Asian supermarket) 3 tablespoons of tapioca starch 3 cloves of …

Sticky Rice with Baby Red Jackfruit / Xôi Gấc

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Xôi gấc or sticky rice with baby red jackfruit is the essence of any holiday feast. The red color comes from the baby jackfruit, a fruit exclusive to southeast Asia, and signifies luck.   The fragrant aroma comes from the seed of the jackfruit and resembles vanilla. This rice dish has become a staple of everyday meal in Vietnam and is often eaten for breakfast or as a snack. In the US, you will often see this xôi gấc at any Vietnamese family gathering as it is inexpensive and easy to make, feeds a large crowd and everyone loves it. Sticky rice can also be made in advance since it is usually served at room temperature. Try this red sticky rice for your next meal. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 6 / Time: 8 hours to soak the rice and 30-45 minutes to cook Ingredients: 3 jars (5.6 oz. jar) of frozen baby red jack fruit pulp with seeds or 2 jars without seeds. (I prefer the jar with seeds. This can be purchased at any …

Chè Khoai Môn / Taro with Sweet Rice Pudding

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Taro is one of the most versatile root vegetable in Vietnamese cuisine. It is used often in both savory and sweet dishes. One of the more popular rendition of taro is chè khoai môn or taro with sweet rice  pudding. Steamed taro is added to a ginger syrup, mixed with sticky rice pudding and topped with a spoonful of coconut milk. This desert is deceptively simple and is also a wonderful snack or dessert. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 6 / Time: 1 hour Ingredients: 2 cups of sweet rice 4 lb. of taro peeled 1/2 cup of julienne ginger (approximately 1 large ginger root) 2 cups of sugar 1 can of coconut milk 1/2 tablespoon of tapioca powder 1/4 teaspoon of salt     Directions: Peel and cut the taro into fist size segments. Steam the taro for 30 minutes. It will be easier to cut the taro into smaller cubes once the taro is cooked. Once the taro is cooked, cut them into 1 inch cubes. Heat a pot with 6 cups of water …

Xôi Bắp / Sticky Rice with Hominy Corn

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Xôi bắp or sticky rice with hominy is an everyday staple in Vietnam. It is such an every man dish that you cannot find it at the restaurants, but rather you would have to find a traveling peddler to purchase this dish. As Vietnam’s economy continues to grow, traveling food peddlers are increasingly a thing of the past. It is now more important to learn how to make this country side dish to preserve the culture. Sticky rice with hominy is a mild dish that goes well with any topping. Traditionally, it is topped with mung bean paste, shredded coconut meat and a salty and sweet sesame peanuts mix. This is a great recipe to serve a large crowd and it also freezes well. Difficulty: Medium / Serving: 6 / Time: 5 hours soaking time and 1 hour to cook Ingredients: 1 cup of peeled split mung bean 2 cups of sweet rice 3 15 oz. cans of Goya white hominy 1 package of frozen shredded coconut meat 1/3 cup of unsalted roasted peanuts 1/3 cup …