**Bánh Xèo: A Culinary Journey Through Crispy Vietnamese Crepes**
Bánh xèo, pronounced as "bahn say-oh", is a quintessential Vietnamese dish that captivates taste buds with its alluring combination of crispy batter, savory fillings, and vibrant herbs. Originating from the vibrant culinary landscape of Southern Vietnam, particularly the former imperial city of Huế, this delectable treat has captured the hearts of locals and culinary enthusiasts alike. Bánh xèo is not just a dish; it's an experience that embodies the essence of Vietnamese cuisine, where contrasting textures, harmonious flavors, and the freshness of ingredients unite to create a symphony of taste.
This comprehensive guide delves into the art of crafting bánh xèo, providing two distinct recipes that cater to diverse dietary preferences. The traditional recipe stays true to the classic combination of pork and shrimp fillings, wrapped in a crispy turmeric-infused batter. For those seeking a plant-based option, an equally enticing vegetarian version substitutes tofu and wood ear mushrooms, delivering a symphony of flavors and textures that will leave you equally satisfied.
Discover the secrets of achieving the perfect balance of crispy batter and succulent fillings, along with tips for selecting the freshest ingredients and assembling this delightful dish. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or embarking on your culinary journey, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to recreate this iconic Vietnamese delicacy in the comfort of your own kitchen. So, let's embark on a flavor-filled adventure as we delve into the world of bánh xèo, where crispy meets savory, and tradition harmonizes with innovation.
BANH XEO (VIETNAMESE CREPES)
Banh xeo (bahn SAY-oh) is a popular street snack in Vietnam, especially in the south. The name means sound crepe, and refers to the sound the batter makes when it hits the hot skillet. Serve with fresh herbs. The shrimp-studded crepe is rolled up in a leaf of lettuce and dipped in nuoc cham dipping sauce before it gets popped in your mouth.
Provided by foxyamf
Categories 100+ Breakfast and Brunch Recipes Crepes
Time 25m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Mix rice flour, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and turmeric together in a large bowl. Beat in coconut milk to make a thick batter. Slowly beat in water until batter is the consistency of a thin crepe batter.
- Heat 1 1/2 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot and garlic; cook and stir until fragrant but not browning, 1 to 2 minutes. Add shrimp; saute until cooked through and opaque, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with fish sauce and salt. Transfer filling to a bowl.
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
- Wipe out skillet and reheat over medium heat. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoon oil. Stir crepe batter and pour 1/2 cup into the hot skillet, swirling to coat the bottom. Lay 3 or 4 of the cooked shrimp on the bottom half of the crepe. Top with a small handful of bean sprouts. Cook until batter looks set and edges start to brown, about 1 minute. Fold crepe over and slide onto an oven-safe plate.
- Place crepe in the preheated oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter and filling.
- Serve lettuce leaves alongside filled crepes. Break off pieces of crepe and roll up in lettuce leaves to eat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 788.4 calories, Carbohydrate 107 g, Cholesterol 129.2 mg, Fat 21.5 g, Fiber 20.3 g, Protein 45.2 g, SaturatedFat 12.5 g, Sodium 1052.7 mg, Sugar 8.8 g
VIETNAMESE SHRIMP AND PORK CREPES (BANH XEO)
These crisp golden crêpes, filled with shrimp, pork, and vegetables, are both delicious and fun to eat. Simply wrap each crêpe in a lettuce leaf, tuck in fresh herbs like mint and basil, and dip it in the sweet-and-sour sauce.
Provided by Lillian Chou
Categories Blender Bean Citrus Fish Garlic Leafy Green Herb Mushroom Onion Pepper Pork Vegetable Stir-Fry Gourmet
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 34
Steps:
- Make crêpe batter:
- Cover dried mung beans with water by 2 inches in a bowl and soak at room temperature, at least 30 minutes. Drain in a sieve, then rinse under cold water until water runs clear.
- Purée drained mung beans, coconut milk, and water (6 tablespoons) in a blender (mixture may appear curdled). Add rice flour, sugar, turmeric, and salt and purée until smooth. Transfer to a bowl.
- Make dipping sauce:
- Stir together sauce ingredients until sugar is dissolved.
- Make filling:
- Cut pork across the grain into 1/2-inch-thick slices, then cut slices into 2 1/2- by 1/2-inch strips. Stir together pork, shrimp, fish sauce, and brown sugar.
- Mince enough of lower portion of lemongrass stalk to measure 2 teaspoons.
- Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking, then stir-fry onion, mushrooms, lemongrass, garlic, and pepper until mushrooms are golden, about 3 minutes. Make a well in center of mixture and add shrimp and pork and stir-fry until shrimp turns pink, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a clean bowl. (Shrimp and pork will not be cooked through.)
- Cook crépes:
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 200°F.
- Heat 1 teaspoon oil in cleaned skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Stir batter, then pour 1/2 cup into skillet, immediately tilting and rotating skillet to coat bottom. Sprinkle one fourth of fresh bean sprouts over half of crpe, then stir filling and spoon one fourth of filling evenly on top of bean sprouts. Sprinkle one fourth of scallions on top. Reduce heat to moderately low and cook, covered, until edge of crpe begins to pull away from side of skillet (check occasionally), about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook crépe, uncovered, until underside and edge are crisp and golden, 2 to 3 minutes more (lift with a spatula to check underside; shrimp and pork will be fully cooked). Fold crépe over and gently slide onto a large rack on a large baking pan and keep warm in oven. Make 3 more crépes with remaining oil, batter, bean sprouts, filling, and scallions in same manner.
- Have each guest tear crépes in half and wrap each half in lettuce, then tuck in herbs. Serve with lime wedges and dipping sauce.
BANH XEO - VIETNAMESE CREPES
My husband loves these. They look like they have eggs in the batter, but they don't. Makes for a great light supper or brunch item.
Provided by PalatablePastime
Categories Curries
Time 34m
Yield 5 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Place pork loin in a saucepan; cover with water and bring to a boil over medium heat; simmer until cooked through, about 20 minutes.
- Allow pork to cool, then julienne into strips.
- Shell and devein shrimp; slice each one in half lengthwise.
- Rinse herbs and drain; set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, prepare batter by mixing rice flour, self-rising flour, water, coconut milk, curry powder, sugar, salt, and green onion until smooth.
- Divide pork, shrimp, onion, and bean sprouts into 5 separate little piles for easy access during cooking.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in non-stick frying pan until hot; cook pork shrimp and onion until it starts to sizzle; add 1/2 cup of batter and swirl to cover pan and get batter underneath.
- Place one pile of bean sprouts towards the center of the crepe, then cover the pan tightly.
- Turn the heat down to medium and cook for 2-3 minutes, then uncover and loosen edges of crepe and fold over with a spatula to form an omelette.
- Transfer the crepe to a serving platter.
- Repeat process with rest of batter.
- Do not cover the cooked crepes or stack them (they will lose their crispness- they should remain light and airy).
- To serve, place one crepe on a plate with some lettuce leaves, herbs also with a small bowl of nuoc cham.
- The person cuts a portion of crepe, wraps it in a leaf of lettuce with some herbs, and dips it in the sauce.
Tips:
- Use a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. This will help the crepes cook evenly and prevent them from sticking.
- Make sure the batter is thin enough. If the batter is too thick, the crepes will be difficult to spread and will not cook evenly.
- Spread the batter thinly. The thinner the crepes, the crispier they will be.
- Cook the crepes over medium heat. If the heat is too high, the crepes will burn before they are cooked through.
- Flip the crepes carefully. Use a spatula to gently flip the crepes so that they do not tear.
- Serve the crepes immediately. Banh xeo are best served hot and crispy.
Conclusion:
Banh xeo is a delicious and versatile Vietnamese dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. With a little practice, you can easily make these crepes at home. So next time you are looking for something new to try, give banh xeo a try!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love