If you are following any vegan trends, you probably heard of the use of young jackfruit as a pulled pork replacement. The Vietnamese have been using young jackfruit since forever as a meat replacement. Here is one of the most popular way to use youngfruit in a salad.
Read MoreBanh Mi Nuong Muoi Ot has gotten really popular in the major cities of Vietnam recently. You will see young foodies, eagerly waiting in long lines to get a taste of this unique and flavorful snack from the many food stands that have popped up overnight. What makes this street food so popular is because it offers a taste of American and Vietnamese fusion. Plus, it's simple good food, and I can't imagine the wonders it does for a bad hangover.
Read MoreBanh Beo are steamed savory rice cakes. Banh is cake in Vietnamese and Beo is the delicate white flower of a water fern that the steamed rice cake resembles. Locals in Vietnam usually graze all day, and Banh Beo can be one of many small meals that they eat.
Read MoreOne of the most popular Vietnamese salads is Gỏi Gà Bắp Cải. It's a refreshing salad of hand-shredded chicken, cabbage, carrots, onions and Vietnamese coriander; mixed with a sweet and savory fish sauce dressing; and topped with crunchy roasted peanuts and fried shallots.
Read MoreXiao Long Bao, also known XLB for short or Little Dragon Buns for a literal translation, are steamed dumplings made of ground pork and pork broth. The common question with XLB is how they get the broth inside the dumpling. The answer fascinated me and many others. Click to learn more!
Read MoreBanh Trang Nuong, or Vietnamese Pizza, is a popular street food among young people in Vietnam. It resembles pizza with an assortment of fun toppings. However, instead of a thick dough as the base, you have a thin sheet of rice paper. Instead of tomato sauce, you have a quail or chicken egg beaten directly on top of the rice paper and spread evenly. The egg prevents the rice paper from burning, and it serves as a glue for the toppings. There's no right or wrong topping. Some people like to add a Western spin with cheese and cut-up hot dogs. Whereas I like to keep mine very traditional with exotic Southeast Asian flavors, such as fermented shrimp paste (Mam Ruoc), dried pork, and Sriracha sauce.
Read MoreA banana blossom salad made with red cabbage, white onions and red bell peppers, topped with minced mint, Vietnamese coriander, roasted peanuts and the same generous pour of fish sauce dressing.
Read MoreShrimp Egg Roll, Cha Gio Cuon Tom, is a super simple Vietnamese appetizer. It is whole shrimp, marinated in a quick sauce, rolled in egg wrappers and deep fried. It comes with a side of a sweet chili dipping sauce. It's fancy. It's delicious. Best of all, it's super simple to make that is guaranteed to impress a crowd.
Read MoreSugar cane shrimp skewer or Chao Tom is a traditional Vietnamese appetizer. It is typically served in dinner banquets at Asian weddings and other special occasions and also one of the many offerings at Dim Sum. You can eat them directly as finger foods, or remove the shrimp from the skewer and wrap it in lettuce and dip with a Vietnamese fish sauce dipping sauce.
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