Are you a great food enthusiast? Do you love enjoying quality dishes? Do you drool over the aroma of a variety of dishes?
Being a Vietnam citizen, you should definitely relish the different Vietnamese dishes available in every street stall or restaurant. The freshness of raw herbs and spices blends together to create a delicious taste that leaves everyone craving for much more.
Not only is the food appetizing but also the healthiest in the world. Check out the top Vietnamese dishes in this article that you must try once.
Top Delicious Vietnamese Dishes You Should Try
Pho- Vietnamese Noodle Soup
On the list of top traditional Vietnamese dishes, Pho has gained popularity over many years. Typically, the bowl of Pho consists of thin rice noodles, meat (beef or chicken), and broth. In addition, raw herbs and spices such as shallots, basil, vinegar, lemon, garlic, chili, pepper, cilantro, sawgrass, and spring onions.
The rice noodles in Pho are made using rice flour which is finely smoothed and thinly rolled like rolls and then cut into little pieces. Basically, the broth is the soul of delicious pho that is a blend of cardamom, ginger, cinnamon, star anise, fish sauce, etc.
Moreover, there are two main variations of Pho- Pho Bo or Pho Ga. The broth of Pho Bo includes flat noodles, ginger, shallots, aromatics, and beef bones. It is generally spicy in taste. This dish is best if you enjoy beef the most.
On the other hand, Pho Ga contains chicken, coriander leaves, mung bean sprouts, basils, spring onions, thin noodles, and chili. It has a sweet flavor. The people who love chicken must try this pho variation.
Bun Cha- Vietnamese Rice Noodles With Grilled Pork
Bun Cha is one of the delicious Northern Vietnamese dishes that the citizens of Vietnam have for lunch. Mainly, it consists of four ingredients: rice noodles, fresh herbs, dipping sauce, and grilled eskort antalya pork.
Usually, the noodles in Bun Cha are vermicellis, very thin and small in size. Grilled meat in it is of two types, one is meatballs and another is patties, made up of pork. During the cooking process, meat pieces are shaped into round balls which are marinated and then grilled over the charcoal grill.
Moreover, the dipping sauce which is a mixture of sugar, vinegar, carrot, minced garlic, pepper, papaya, and chili enhances the flavor of dish. The spiciness of the sauce and the sweetness of the meat gives savory flavors that is the main attraction for most Vietnam citizens and tourists.
Banh Mi- Vietnamese Sandwich
Banh Mi tops the list of the best Vietnamese dishes found in small streets to top-quality restaurants. Being affordable and available everywhere, this sandwich has become one of the essential food options for Vietnam citizens, especially for breakfast. In addition, its cooking procedure is very easy and quick. The crunchiness of the baguette(bread) and the deliciousness of the fillings makes it the favorite street food of everyone.
Typically, the main stuffing ingredients of this Vietnamese sandwich include pork bellies, daikon, fresh cilantro, cucumber, pork sausage, carrot, pate, jalapeno, and mayonnaise. Other Banh Mi variations have the filling of fried eggs with some soy sauce and canned sardines(a type of fish) with tomato sauce. More than this, its vegetarian version consists of tofu, green veggies, and mushrooms topped with condensed milk and crushed peanuts.
Banh Cuon- Steamed Rice Rolls
Banh Cuon is considered the spirit of the food culture of Vietnam that has existed for ages. Mainly, its origin is from the Northern region and is available in every street vendor and restaurant. Among the healthiest Vietnamese dishes, these rice rolls are on the top list as they do not contain any dairy product and gluten-rich food.
This Vietnamese cuisine has the deliciousness of ground pork, mushrooms, meat, and shrimp. All these ingredients are stuffed inside the thinly steamed rolls, made using rice flour, water, and salt. Green veggies and scallions are the toppings that enhance the flavor of the Banh Cuon. You can enjoy it with chili, fish, or soy sauce.
In terms of cultural aspects, these Vietnamese steamed rice rolls offer a balanced mixture of ingredients to make the dish appetizing. Such as green veggies as Yin ingredients, and shrimp or meat as Yang ingredients. Additionally, you can see the five colorful elements in this cuisine. Like, the green of veggies, the red of meat and shrimp, the black of mushrooms, the yellow of fried shallots, and white of rice rolls. Isn’t it interesting?
Banh Xeo- Vietnamese Pancake
Vietnamese pancakes differ in different regions in terms of ingredients, shape, and way of eating. Originally, it is a famous dish of Southern Vietnam. You might be wondering why this pancake is called “Banh Xeo”? Interestingly, it gets this name from the sizzling sound produced when the batter is spread all over the hot frying pan. “Xeo” in Vietnamese means “sizzle”.
A smooth mixture of organic turmeric, water, and rice flour makes a rice batter. The delicious fillings of pork, mung bean sprouts, shrimps, and white onions add flavor to the dish. In addition, on the side of the platter, Vietnamese people serve varieties of fresh herbs such as perilla, spearmint, Thai basil, lettuce, fish mints, etc.
Most people stuff the Vietnamese pancake inside the lettuce leaf and serve it with the fish sauce. Just dip the Banh Xeo crepes in the sauce and enjoy its spicy taste.
Most importantly, for making pancakes, effective cooking skills are very important. The batter should have a smooth consistency and the pouring style also matters the most. If the batter does not form a crispy and thin crepe, the entire dish can look messy and less attractive.
Bun Bo Hue- Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup
One of the perfect Vietnamese dishes which is very filling. It originates from the central region of Vietnam that locals have at breakfast as it is a great source of energy. In addition, Bun Bo Hue consists of a balance of spicy, sour, sweet, and salty flavors.
The broth gives this beef noodle soup a distinctive taste. The noodles in Bun Bo Hue are actually thicker than in Pho. The stuffing includes beef brisket, pork sausage, pork leg, scallions, cabbage, mint, tofu, lime wedge, perilla, and bean sprouts. It needs much preparation timing as there is a simmering of beef shanks and beef bones with fermented shrimp paste, chili oil, and lemongrass.
Goi Cuon- Vietnamese Summer Spring Rolls
If you want to avoid eating fried food, Goi Cuon is for you! A classic dish and Vietnamese most favorite summer spring rolls. The dish consists of the filling of green veggies, cilantro, shrimp, meat, fresh prawns, and rice noodles, wrapped in translucent rice paper. “Nuoc Cham”, a spicy dipping sauce makes the cuisine more flavorsome.
The vegetarian variation of the Goi Cuon includes tofu, fresh green veggies, and wood ear mushrooms. Locals of South Vietnam use star fruits and green bananas instead of vegetables. They especially enjoy these summer rolls as a starter.
Summing Up
It is rightly said that the food is the perfect reflector of the culture of the country. While enjoying the stunning scenery of Vietnam, everyone should definitely dig into the food. Varieties of Vietnamese dishes available at street stalls and restaurants can absolutely spice up your taste buds.
For a great food experience, Dakao Hoang restaurant is always ready to provide great services. Do visit the place and make your day memorable.