This Jellied Pork (Thit Dong) recipe makes a delicious savory jelly of pork and vegetables set in decorative molds. If you are not familiar with this Jellied Pork dish, it may look rather unusual. What is this exactly? Meat-filled snow globes? Fossilized pork parts? Interestingly, this dish of jellied meat is not distinct to just Asian cuisine, but is […]
This no-fail recipe for Crispy Roast Pork (Thit Heo Quay) makes a perfectly puffy and crispy pork skin atop well-seasoned and juicy meat. I find most animal skins to be rather slimy and too fatty for consumption and so am not a fan. However, I break all the rules for this delectable dish. With its thick, […]
This Braised Pork and Shrimp dish is a delicious example of the bold flavors intrinsic to Vietnamese cuisine. It’s an easy dish with simple ingredients but is truly unique tasting. Braising or “Kho” is a popular Viet method for cooking savory meat dishes. The cooking technique allows the meat and shrimp to absorb the savory and slightly sweet sauce as it is cooked. Caramelizing […]
I admit it–I’ll eat anything rolled in rice paper. My all-time favorite dish is Pork and Shrimp Fresh Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon) and on its heels is this dish. I absolutely love all the different tastes and textures of these unique spring rolls: the flavorful and hearty grilled pork sausages, the refreshing lettuce and aromatic herbs, the […]
I love making these homemade Grilled Pork Sausages (Nem Nuong) because I can control exactly what goes in them. No random animal parts, preservatives or red food coloring in this recipe. It’s super simple and you’ll love the way these sausages taste. This is a great meat dish to grill for your outdoor events but they […]
Steamed Pork Buns (Banh Bao) are the most universally appealing snack and you’ll love this easy recipe. While working on this post, I was searching for a few alternative names for this fluffy, steamed bun filled with savory meats. To my pleasant surprise, I learned these delectable buns are quite well-loved in Asian cuisine and are known by many different […]
This is my Mom’s Egg Rolls (Cha Gio/Nem Ran) recipe and I have to say, these egg rolls are the best I’ve tasted. (Thanks Mom!) I like the balance of meat–pork and shrimp, and vegetables in the filling. This recipe uses carrots which is quite common. The taro root is a differentiating ingredient and adds a […]
Sticky Rice and Mung Bean Cakes (Banh Tet) are must-have foods for Vietnamese New Year / Tet. There are many variations on the filling, some sweet and others savory. This recipe is the savory version with a mung bean and pork filling. Unlike their square-shaped siblings, Square Sticky Rice and Mung Bean Cakes (Banh Chung), these cakes are smaller, cylindrical and […]
As the weather cools I gravitate toward soupy dishes and my favorite soups always have lots of noodles like this delicious Won Ton Noodle Soup. The soup is quite eclectic with its variety of ingredients. It has hearty meat-filled dumplings, savory roast pork, succulent shrimp, leafy greens, oodles of egg noodles, sprigs of fresh herbs and a sautéed garlic topping to add the right amount […]
Eating green papaya is a Viet favorite and using it in salads is a wonderful way to enjoy this tasty tropical fruit. Green papaya, like most green fruit, is unripened and not at all sweet. Green papaya has a really interesting texture–crunchy and slightly chewy. I’ve received numerous requests for papaya salad recipes and often wonder which one is being […]
