Vietnamese food culture includes a multitude of cakes with different designs and flavors. Although all kinds of cakes, pies, savory pastries, crepes, banh mi and other cakes are called “Banh” in Vietnamese, it only translates the meaning of any of these foods. Nor can it fully and accurately explain the enormous variety of this particular Vietnamese dish. item.
Interestingly, their names are called by their composition, shape, meaning, place of origin or even the method of their creation. It can take time to list all the Vietnamese cakes, so this article will try to give you a brief but as in-depth overview as possible of delicious Vietnamese cakes. .
Vietnamese cakes have many different purposes
Unlike Western countries, where cake is often used as a dessert, Vietnamese cakes are largely considered the main dish, especially for breakfast (see 9 most popular breakfast dishes in Vietnam). Vietnamese banh mi (Banh mi) is a popular example. Banh mi is familiar to all Vietnamese people, from children to the elderly, from students to office workers, because it is one of the fastest and cheapest dishes to satisfy hunger. This special bread has a crispy and rather hollow crust, is usually kept warm to eat hot, and the filling is made to your personal taste, be it roast beef, pate, omelet or peanut butter.
Another breakfast dish with Vietnamese cakes is banh cuon, a specialty of the North of Vietnam. One of the most famous versions of this dish is called Thanh Tri banh cuon in Hanoi. Made with thin and soft white rice, filled and rolled with minced pork and mushrooms, this dish is served with spring rolls, fried onions, bean sprouts and a light fish sauce.
Photo: beptruong.edu.vn – pancakes
On the other hand, mung bean cake is often used as a snack, like tea cake, when drinking tea. The sweet taste of cake blended with lotus tea is a perfect combination when we enjoy a sip of tea. This combination really has the power to bring people closer together in a warm atmosphere. And to emphasize the difference between the Cakes, the Green Bean Cake is made entirely with sugar and chickpea flour – imagine making sponge cakes in other parts of the world!
Photo: blog.beemart.vn
These dishes are one of the outstanding features of traditional Vietnamese cuisine, and are testament to the versatile role Vietnamese cakes (Banh) play in everyday life – they’re not just eaten. as a snack or dessert, but also an important dish in most main meals. .
Vietnamese cakes have many different meanings
Vietnamese cakes are not only culinary but also associated with Vietnamese culture and spirit. Two of the most popular cakes on Tet holiday are Banh Chung and Banh Day, symbolizing Heaven and Earth. Banh chung made from glutinous rice, green beans, pork and other ingredients is square in shape, wrapped with dong leaves and ropes. The thick cake made from glutinous rice has a round shape, but the method is simpler. Originating from the Hong Bang period, two indispensable elements on the Vietnamese ancestral altar have become the soul of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, because that is how Vietnamese people worship their ancestors and homeland to express gratitude and expect a good thing. New Year.
Another meaningful cake is Banh Phu The (or Xuxe), which can be translated as Banh Phu The. This cake is made from tapioca flour, pandan leaves, green beans, coconut and other ingredients. It has a jelly-like texture, with a transparent shell revealing the yellow mixture inside, and is enclosed by two square boxes. Appearing in the wedding ceremony, this cake is a symbol of a solid and eternal marriage, as strong as the promise of both the bride and groom.
Photo: banhcuoihoi.com
Vietnamese cakes come from different regions
Due to different geographical and cultural characteristics, each region of Vietnam is proud of its unique and special cakes. While Hanoi in the North of Vietnam has Banh Khuc, the province of Soc Trang in the South of Vietnam also has its own specialty called Banh Pia. Banh Khuc is a kind of cake made from glutinous rice and bay leaves, filled with pork and green beans, is an indispensable childhood part of most Hanoians. Pia cake is a famous cake of Soc Trang, located in the South of Vietnam. It is made from flour, durian and egg yolk. One of the main features of this round cake is that it is covered with many layers of flour.
Photo: en.wikipedia.org – Banh Khuc
Back in central Vietnam, here we have Hoi An white rose cake (cauldron cake), named after the beautiful and fragrant rose shape. It is made with rice, minced shrimp and spices. Due to the complicated and meticulous way of making, this dish itself is a dumpling, served with a sauce made from shrimp broth, chili and lemon.
Vietnamese cakes have many different flavors
The variety of Vietnamese cakes is a veritable feast of color for the eyes and taste for the tongue. From region to region, city to city, Vietnamese cakes appear everywhere, from sweet to savory. In the pastry category, we have banh com, which is made from young glutinous rice and green beans. This delicious cake is truly a gift from Hanoi, and the most famous place to produce the best nuggets is Vong village.
Photo: anhtuankhang.vn – Com cake
And it would be a shortcoming if we don’t put the traditional Hue cakes, which are Banh Beo, Banh Nam, Banh filter, into the category of savory cakes. These cakes are made from rice flour (but tougher when making filter cakes), shrimp, pork and spices and are often served with fish sauce made from chili and garlic. These special cakes have glorified Hue traditional cuisine and won the hearts of many gourmets not only in Vietnam but also in other countries.
Photo: beptruong.edu.com – banh loc
Vietnamese cakes have many different versions
Vietnamese cakes are not only diverse in designs, types, purposes, and versions of a type. Take the little cake as an example. It is a specialty of Binh Dinh province. This cake is made from glutinous rice, green beans, a special ingredient called hemp leaves, wrapped in banana leaves. The cake looks like a black ball, the inside is covered with a yellow filling. Another version of Banh It is Banh It Tom Thit of Hue ancient capital. This rustic cake is also made from glutinous rice, stuffed with minced meat and shrimp, served with fish sauce.
Another example to consider is Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Crepes) and Banh Khoai (Khoai Banh). Banh Xeo is popular in the southern cities of Vietnam or Quang Binh, while Banh Khoai (Banh xeo) is a specialty dish of Hue city. These two types of cakes are shaped like crepes with a crust made of rice flour, inside are pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and other ingredients. Both are served with fish sauce and raw vegetables. However, Hue pancakes are smaller but thicker than banh xeo.
Photo: dienmayxanh.com – pancakes
This is just a glimpse to see the diversity of Vietnamese cakes, including between cities in the Central region or between the Central and the South.
There are so many more cakes to introduce, so many more dishes to tell. Once traveling to Vietnam, do not miss the opportunity to discover the whole world of Vietnamese cakes yourself. A cake to try, a taste to leave forever!
Source: https://traveland.com.vn
