I discovered claypot eel at maybe my second dinner in Vietnam and proceeded to eat it just about every day for the rest of the trip. At the time, I didn’t know much about what I was actually ordering, but I knew that each one …
In its simplest form, cháo (Vietnamese rice soup) is a soup made with broth, rice, and maybe a few pieces of ginger and scallion. I’ve heard it referred to as the Vietnamese equivalent to chicken noodle soup, and the similarities are certainly there: it is …
Though I did not know the proper name for years, bun ga nuong, or a Vietnamese cold noodle bowl with chicken was my first ever taste of that Southeast Asian country’s cuisine. Back in college, when I was a much less culinarily-inclined individual, my friend dragged me to a new Vietnamese restaurant near my house. I knew nothing about the cuisine at the time, and I was skeptical verging on hesitant, but I followed his lead, ordered the noodle bowl, and my world was forever changed. Continue reading Bún Gà Nướng – Vietnamese Cold Noodle Bowl
Scallion Pancakes are thin, crispy pancakes stuffed with scallions and dipped in a sauce of soy, vinegar, and chili oil. Unlike western pancakes, which are made with batter, these are instead typically made with an unleavened wheat dough, folded through with scallions and fried to …
Bánh xèo (pronounced something like bon say-oh) is a fried Vietnamese rice flour crepe. The name is actually something of an onomatopoeia, as xèo sounds like the batter sizzling in the pan.
Variously known as spring rolls, salad rolls, and summer rolls, you are likely familiar with this delicious Vietnamese appetizer made of shrimp, vermicelli noodles, and fresh herbs bundled up in a rice paper and dipped in that perfect dipping sauce, nước chấm. It is hard to beat, particularly in warm climates. Continue reading Gỏi cuốn – Vietnamese Salad Rolls
Arroz con Leche is Mexican rice pudding made by simmering rice with water and milk, allowing it to slowly take in moisture and release starches until the grains are tender and float in a beautiful pudding. Cloves, cinnamon, and a bit of sugar add sweetness …
Chilaquiles are, at their root, a dish to use up stale tortillas. Extra corn tortillas from the night before are fried and then simmered in a rich sauce. It may sound like a dull dish, but it will surprise you. The tortillas soak up all …
While the name tequila lime shrimp likely rings of cheap tex-mex cuisine, camarones al tequila sounds like something I would order in a heartbeat. I love shrimp, I love tequila, how could it go wrong? Frankly, I’m not sure that it can. I think this one is a guaranteed win. Continue reading Camarones al Tequila
A good salsa roja recipe is something we should all have in our back pocket. There are an unlimited number of ways to make salsa, and I am all about exploration and creativity, but for me no salsa platter is complete without a simple, perfect …