Renowned fashion magazine Vogue of the United States has revealed a list of 29 Vietnamese dishes that visitors should try when going to a Vietnamese restaurant or visiting the nation on vacation.
Banh khot (Photo: Cookpad)
According to the magazine, Vietnamese cuisine is an amalgamation of various exciting types of food.
“While pho and banh mi are easily identifiable as Vietnamese, there is so much more to the fare than these two quintessential items,” says Vogue.
Among the 29 Vietnamese dishes named, including bun rieu, bun bo Hue, and bun cha, the magazine also introduces readers to delicious banh xeo and banh khot.
Banh xeo is described as a type of savory crepe that is produced from rice flour and turmeric powder, which gives it a yellow hue, and is stuffed with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts.
Banh khot is similar to banh xeo as it uses the same batter, although it resembles a mini pancake with a single shrimp in the centre.
Rau muong xao toi (Photo: Bach hoa xanh)
When mentioning rau muong xao toi, also known as morning glory or water spinach, a familiar dish among Vietnamese people, the magazine said the dish is a common vegetable as the country’s tropical climate creates ideal conditions for its growth.
“The best way to have it is stir-fried with copious amounts of garlic (and maybe a hint of fish sauce and sugar) — keeping it simple sometimes leads to outstanding results,” it noted.
Another signature of Vietnamese food is Com tam, also known as broken rice.
“Grilled pork, prawns, or beef sit alongside accompaniments such as fresh and pickled vegetables, an over-easy egg, crispy spring rolls, and thinly shredded pork skin,” the magazine describes.
Vogue also recommends that visitors pour a healthy amount of fish sauce over the plate to create a superb meal.
Rounding off the list of the top 29 Vietnamese dishes are Goi cuon, fried spring rolls, Thit kho to, Cao lau, a Hoi An noodle specialty, Banh cuon, rice noodle rolls, Bo luc lac, a type of beef, and Bun thit nuong, grilled marinated pork. This is in addition to Goi xoai, mango salad, Canh chua, sweet and sour soup, Hen xuc banh trang, stir-fried baby clams, Chao, a type of porridge, Hu tieu, Xoi, sticky rice, Lau, hot pot, and Mi Quang.