All posts filed under: meat

Bánh Mì Chiên Chạo Tôm / Easy Vietnamese Shrimp Toast

A fantastic party dish that is easy to make ahead of time is my version of shrimp toast with a Vietnamese twist. Shrimp paste mixed with ground meat of your choice, pressed between slices of white bread and then deep fried is always a crowd favorite. I have deep fried these mini sandwiches and have also used the air fryer. Deep frying creates a crunchier and tastier shrimp toast. Air frying these mini sandwiches is a healthier alternative and you will still get the nice crunch in every bite. Whichever method you choose, your friends and family will love you for it. Difficulty: Easy / Time: 30 minutes / Servings: 24 toasts Ingredients: 3/4 lb. / approximately 22 shrimps/ 350 gram of shrimp (devein with no shell and no head) 1/2 lb. of frozen ground meat such as pork, chicken or turkey 1 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 teaspoon of sugar 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/8 teaspoon of ground pepper 1 and 1/2 tablespoon of a neutral oil 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder or annatto powder 1/2 tablespoon of …

Quick Caramelized Chicken

My niece’s favorite meal, whenever grandma comes around, is this caramelized chicken dish with rice. It comprises of classic Vietnamese salty and sweet flavors with tender moist chicken and crispy skin. It’s a flavor bomb and it never lasts long in this household. This is a very simple dish, which makes it a perfect weeknight meal. Ingredients: 6 drumsticks or other cuts of chicken that you prefer 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of cane sugar (You can substitute with white sugar if it’s not available. Cane sugar gives a nicer caramelized color to this dish.) 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 tablespoon of water 3 tablespoons of coconut soda 2 teaspoons of fish sauce 1 tablespoon of diced onion and thick slices of 1/4 of an onion to garnish 2 tablespoons of minced garlic A few Thai chilis (optional)   Directions: Prepare the drumsticks by removing the main bone, while leaving the end piece intact. You can also skip this step and opt for boneless …

Vietnamese Grilled Chili Bread / Bánh Mì Nướng Muối Ớt

Vietnamese street food has been gaining popularity over the past few years. The combination of influences from western foodie culture and flavors from its Asian neighbors created an interesting variety of new offerings. Vietnamese grilled chili bread or bánh mì nướng muối ớt is a fusion dish that is made for gatherings. This snack is highly customizable and elevates a few inexpensive ingredients to the next level. This is our version of this popular street snack. Ingredients: 2 loaves of bread such as Portuguese roll or similar type of bread that has a  nice crust with a light and soft inside. 1 tablespoon of chili paste such as Sambal Oelek Chili Paste 1 tablespoon of Sriracha (and more to garnish at the end) 1 tablespoon of regular mayonnaise or Kewpie mayonnaise 1 tablespoon of butter 2 stalks of scallion 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon of sugar 1 tablespoon of garlic (approximately 3 cloves) Handful of fried shallots Sprinkle of ground black pepper Meat Toppings: 1/4 pound of Chinese BBQ pork or any other meat toppings like …

Healthy Chicken Lo Mein

Chicken lo mein has become an ubiquitous American fast food item like hamburger, as every small town USA seems to have a Chinese takeout restaurant. Along with General Tsao Chicken, the American version of chicken lo mein is not something you will find in China. The US version of this inexpensive meal is not healthy to eat…but it is delicious. My mom came up with this healthier version of the dish loaded with fresh white meat chicken and vegetables. This is chicken lo mein that you will not feel guilty about devouring. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 4 / Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts 1/2 package of thick egg noodles 2 Portobello mushroom caps 1 tablespoon of minced garlic 1 yellow onion (2 tablespoons of diced onion and 1/2 of an onion in thick slices) 1 tablespoon of minced ginger 5 stalks of scallions cut into 2 inch segments 1 red bell pepper (1 tablespoon of diced red bell pepper and 1/4 of red bell pepper in julienne slices) 4 bok choi pieces 1 …

Five Spice Roasted Quail / Chim Cút Rôti

Chim Cút Rôti or Five Spice Roasted Quail is a common appetizer in many Vietnamese restaurants. Quails are marinated for at least a few hours, then pan fried and covered in a sticky sweet and salty sauce. This is not a dish for date night as you will end up using your fingers to eat the quails. However, the mess is worth it for this finger licking treat. Difficulty: Easy / Serving: 4 / Time: at least 3 hours to marinate and 30 minutes to cook Ingredients 6 quails (You can find frozen quails at the Asian supermarket.) 1/4 teaspoon of Five Spice seasoning 1 tablespoon diced onion 2 and 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic 1-2 cloves of garlic 1 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder 6 tablespoons of coco rico soda 3 tablespoons soy sauce or Knorr liquid seasoning 1 and 1/2 tablespoon of sugar 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 and 1/2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil 1/2 teaspoon of annatto oil (optional) A few stalks of cilantro (garnish) …

Beef Noodle Bowl with Soy Marinade

Vermicelli noodle bowl is a simple dish that has endless variety. In today’s post, we will be making a version with thin slices of beef marinated with a simply soy and oyster sauce. This is an easy meal to make for one or for a large group very quickly. Ingredients: 1/2 pound of beef eye round or similar steak cut 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce 2 tablespoons of coconut soda 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce 1 and 1/2 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 cucumber 1 carrot 1 Romaine lettuce or green of your choice A handful of mint 3-4 tablespoon of minced garlic 1 tablespoon of diced onion 1 Thai chili (optional) 1 lime 1-2 stalks of green onion Sea salt Ground pepper Sugar 1 bushel of vermicelli noodles Directions: Slice the beef as thin as possible. Marinate the beef for 15 minutes with 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of diced onion, 1 tablespoon of garlic, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of chicken bouillon powder and 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper. Julienne …

Steamed Egg and Pork Meatloaf/ Chả Trứng Thịt Hấp

Every culture has a meatloaf or steamed egg dish. Vietnam has our steamed egg and pork meatloaf or chả trứng thịt hấp that most people will recognized as part of a very popular grilled pork chop dish at most restaurants. This dish is very easy to make and can be eaten alone or as part of grilled meat dish and salad. The steamed egg and pork meatloaf also refrigerates well so you can make one and pack it for lunch or dinner for the week. Ingredient: 6 eggs 1 lb. of ground pork 1 cup of minced woodear mushroom 1 cup of glass noodles cut into 3 inch segments (This is a clear vermicelli noodles and not the rice vermicelli noodles that most people are familiar with and can be found in most Asian supermarkets.) 1 cup of shredded carrots 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of fish sauce 1/2 cup of diced onion 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon powder 1 teaspoon of ground pepper 1/2 teaspoon of salt 2 teaspoon of sugar olive oil Directions: Soak the glass …

Quick Caramelized Pork Ribs

Caramelized spare ribs are a stable for lunch or dinner at my parents’ house. We would eat it as part of a rice dish with fresh vegetables and a slice of egg and pork meatloaf (cơm sườn bì chả). These pork ribs are cooked quickly so the meat have a chewier texture than the American version where the meat falls off the bones. This dish is very easy to prepare and takes only 30 minutes to cook. Difficulty: Easy / Servings: 4 / Time: 30 minutes Ingredients: 3 lb. of pork ribs 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut soda (Coco Rico) 3 tablespoons of fish sauce 2 tablespoons of sugar 1 yellow onion, quartered 1/2 tablespoon of mushroom seasoning (if this is not available, use chicken bouillon powder or skip it) 10 cloves of minced garlic and 1 clove of crushed garlic Ground pepper Salt Scallion for garnish Olive oil for cooking Directions: Cut the spare ribs into approximately 2-3 inch segments. This is roughly 2-3 bones per segment. Marinate the ribs with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of …

Bún Bò Huế / Huế Beef Noodle Soup

Bún Bò Huế is a popular beef noodle soup originating from the ancient imperial capital of Vietnam. The soup has a great combination of salty, sweet, sour and spicy with a strong citrus fragrance. This soup is served with a plate of condiments including various herbs, vegetables and rice vermicelli noodles. To get the right balance of flavors require boiling pork bones and beef shank with lemongrass and fermented fish sauce for hours. Spicy chili oil is added to the broth during the process to add a kick.  Bún bò in Huế is not the fiery spicy broth that most people associate with in the US. It is a generally mild and complex broth. The spiciness is added according to people’s taste afterward. This is my mom’s recipe that she learned from a famous Bún Bò Huế vendor in Huế. Difficulty: Medium / Servings: 8 bowls / Time: 3-4 hours to prepare Ingredients: 1/4 cup of ruoc  (shrimp sauce) 6 quarts water 1 lb boneless eye round roast beef 4 lb. pork small knuckle 3 lb pork leg chop …

Bánh Mì Series: Pork Pâté

We introduced you to bánh mì xíu mại or meatballs sandwich, pickled carrots and daikon radish accompaniment and homemade garlic mayonnaise in earlier posts. The next key essential ingredient to assemble a true Vietnamese bánh mì is to make pork pâté. This meat spread gives the sandwich a unique flavor and can be easily eaten alone with bread. My favorite thing to eat for breakfast is to have toasted bread spread with delicious pâté and mayonnaise and top with a fried egg and a splash of soy sauce. This pâté is so easy to make and so scrumptious that you cannot stop eating it. Difficulty: Easy / Serving: 6 cups / Time: 1.5 hours to make and 8 hours to set Ingredients: 2 pound of ground pork ½ pound of pork liver (if you cannot find pork liver, you can substitute with chicken liver) 15 cloves of garlic 3 teaspoons of sugar 1 ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons of ground black pepper 1 ½ cups of canola oil Directions: Mince 15 cloves of garlic in the food …