What should you cook next? These dishes.
Vietnamese cuisine is more than just phở and spring rolls. It's home to noodle dishes, savory stews, unique desserts, and so much more.
From stacked bánh mìs and deeply flavorful bowls of noodles with braised pork, to egg coffee and banana tapioca desserts, read on for delicious ways to rev up your appetite and broaden your cooking know-how.
5. Bun Bo Xa Ot (Vietnamese Steak and Rice Noodle Salad)
7. Bánh Mì
10. Phở Xào Thịt Bò (Stir-Fried Rice Noodles With Beef)
What is it? These stir-fried rice noodles with beef prove there's countless ways to eat Vietnamese noodles, and this is just one of many. The noodles here are cooked in a mix of soy sauce and fish sauce, while the beef is cooked in a base of oyster sauce. A sauce trifecta!
Recipe: Phở Xào Thịt Bò
11. Cà Phê Trứng (Egg Coffee)
What is it? Inspired by a milk shortage, this original Vietnamese coffee recipe pairs coffee with creamy egg fluff made with egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk. It's actually pretty genius — and delicious.
Recipe: Cà Phê Trứng (Egg Coffee)
12. Bánh Xèo (Crispy Vietnamese Crepe)
What is it? Don't let your eyes fool you: These Vietnamese crepes don't include any eggs and are instead a blend of rice flour, turmeric (which lends it its yellow color), coconut cream, and your choice of protein.
Recipe: Bánh Xèo
13. Com Tam (Broken Rice)
Khanh Ngo Photography / Getty Images
What is it? Known as the signature dish of Saigon, this meal consists of rice usually served with grilled pork chops and fish sauce. The dish was apparently born when farmers began cooking with the "broken rice" they couldn't sell. Nowadays, the popularity of this dish has resulted in broken rice selling at sometimes higher prices than regular rice!
Recipe: Com Tam
14. Thịt Kho Tàu (Caramelized Braised Pork and Eggs)
What is it? Fall-apart fatty pork and eggs come together in a savory, rich recipe that is surprisingly easy to make. Most of the time, you're just watching the pot simmer and do its thing.
15. Bún Mắm (Fermented Fish and Noodle Soup)
What is it? If you're up for a challenge, this colorful fermented fish noodle soup rewards you with a deep, complex flavor derived from layers of, yep, generous fermented fish — as well as lemongrass, squid, crackling pork, and stuffed chilis.
Recipe: Bún Mắm
16. Bánh Cuốn (Stuffed Rice Rolls)
What is it? These delicate stuffed steamed rice rolls are often filled with minced pork and served with a hearty helping of fresh herbs.
Recipe: Bánh Cuốn
17. Bánh Canh Tom Cua (Shrimp and Crab Udon)
What is it? Gather 'round, seafood lovers: This one's for you. This recipe combines crab meat, shrimp, and chewy noodles, and dunks it all in a savory slurry of fish sauce, annatto oil (this is where the soup's orange hue comes from), and chicken broth.
Recipe: Bánh Canh Tom Cua
18. Chè Ba Màu (Three-Color Dessert)
What is it? This colorful dessert layers crushed ice, red and mung beans, coconut sauce (sweet coconut milk), and jelly pieces. It's refreshing, fun to make, and the perfect summertime treat.
Recipe: Chè Ba Màu
19. Chè Bắp (Sweet Corn Pudding)
What is it? Sweet corn might sound like an unconventional main ingredient for a dessert, but it works here perfectly paired with tapioca pearls and a rich, sweetened coconut sauce.
Recipe: Chè Bắp
20. Chè Chuối (Banana Tapioca)
What is it? Look, when you cook full-fat coconut milk, bananas, and tapioca pearls, and top it with salted peanuts, it's impossible not to make a dessert that's irresistible. If you're a fan of banana-flavored things, this one will rock your world.
Recipe: Chè Chuối (Banana Tapioca)
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