Cendol is a Southeast Asian dessert/drink of worm-like pandan jellies, mixed with palm-sugar syrup and topped with sweetened coconut milk. In Vietnam, cendol is a popular street food known as Che Banh Lot.
Read MoreHu Tieu noodle soup is the rebel of all Vietnamese noodle soups. There are no rules. You can add whatever delicious topping you want (chicken, pork, eggs, innards and/or seafood). You can have it with broth, without broth (dry) or with broth on the side. You can have it with rice noodles (Pho noodles), tapioca noodles (Hu Tieu noodles), egg noodles (Mi noodles) or any combination of them. It’s delicious chaos in a bowl.
Read MoreNước Chấm is a quintessential sauce in Vietnamese cuisine. Made from simple ingredients like fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar, this sauce adds a delicious umami flavor to a wide range of dishes. It's a staple item in Vietnamese households and provides an essential finishing touch to many Vietnamese dishes.
Read MoreVietnamese iced milk coffee (ca phe sua da) is the most popular coffee drink in Vietnam. It’s a refreshing caffeinated drink, perfect for the hot and humid Vietnam weather. Since it’s getting close to Winter here and I’m one who can’t regulate my own body heat for the life of me (says the husband), I rely on hot Vietnamese milk coffee (ca phe sua nong) this time of year to keep me warm. It’s the same great flavor of Vietnamese iced coffee but obviously without the ice and a tad less condensed milk. Ca phe sua nong is essentially a Vietnamese sweetened espresso.
Read MoreBraised to soft gelatinous perfection with plenty of delicious broth, this sweet and savory pork belly and egg dish is childhood comfort food. Enjoy with steamed rice for the ultimate taste of Vietnamese home cooking.
Read MoreVietnamese Shaking Beef is seared cubed steak sauteed with garlic, onion, butter, and a soy marinade. The beef goes onto a bed of lettuce, watercress, tomato and/or cucumbers, and served with an optional lime-salt-and-pepper dipping sauce.
Read MoreBanh Bao (“wrapping cake”) is a fluffy Vietnamese steamed bun with a savory filling. The most common filling is ground pork, onions, mushroom, Chinese sausage and a hard-boiled egg. Other varieties include vegetables such as peas, carrots and jicama.
Read MoreThe chilling temperature and me coming down with a cold had me thinking of one thing and one thing only. A nice hot bowl of Vietnamese thick rice porridge soup (Chao), also known as congee or gruel. The soft texture makes it a favorite among elders, babies and those who are sick. With less than a cup of rice, you can make a pot of chao to feed the whole family.
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