bánh xèo
{{short description|Vietnamese stuffed pancake}}
{{italics title}}
{{expand Vietnamese|topic=cult|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name = Bánh Xèo
| image = Banh Xeo with fish sauce and vegetables.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Vietnamese bánh xèo including thai basil, mint leaves, lettuce, and dipping sauce
| alternate_name =
| country = Vietnam
| creator =
| course = Main Course
| type = Pancake, Crepe
| national_cuisine = Cambodian, Thai, Vietnamese
| served = Usually serve hot
| main_ingredient = Rice flour, water, turmeric powder
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
Bánh xèo ({{IPA|vi|ɓǎjŋ̟ sɛ̂w|lang}}, {{literal translation|sizzling pancake}}) is a crispy, stuffed rice pancake popular in Vietnam.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1KPlqAmRcbYC&dq=banh+xeo+pancake&pg=PA114 | title=Authentic Vietnamese Cooking: Food from a Family Table | isbn=978-0-684-86444-0 | last1=Trang | first1=Corinne | date=1999 | publisher=Simon and Schuster }} The name refers to the sound (from xèo – 'sizzling') a thin layer of rice batter makes when it is poured into the hot skillet.Ottolenghi, Yotam - Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London's Ottolenghi 2011 "Bánh xèo - In 2007 I visited Hanoi with my friend, Alex Meitlis, and found myself squatting in the dingiest of family-run street kitchens, experiencing the best food I've ever tasted."Lucy Nguyen-Hong-Nhiem - A Dragon Child: Reflections Of A Daughter Of Annam In America Page 13 2004 "She loved to cook our favorite dishes, bánh xèo and bánh khoái. This is a dish that Vietnamese in the US call "happy pancakes". They are called bánh xèo: bánh is cake; xèo is the sizzling noise of the batter when it is poured into a hot ..." It is a savoury fried pancake made of rice flour, water, and turmeric powder. It can also be called a Vietnamese crêpe.{{Cite web|date=2015-02-23|title=Bánh Xèo Recipe (Crispy Vietnamese Crêpes / Pancakes)|url=https://www.hungryhuy.com/banh-xeo-savory-vietnamese-crepes/|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Hungry Huy|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Vietnamese crepes with pork and shrimp recipe - banh xeo|url=https://www.scmp.com/cooking/recipe/vietnamese-crepes-pork-shrimp-and-bean-sprouts/article/3077305|access-date=2021-03-18|website=SCMP Cooking {{!}} South China Morning Post|language=en}} Some common stuffings include pork, prawns, diced green onion, mung bean, and bean sprouts. Bánh xèo is often served with sides. Usually, some commonly added ingredients include leafy greens like lettuces or perilla leaves, other herbs as flavor enhancers like mint leaves and Thai basil,[http://giacmoviet.vn/cam-nang-du-lich/banh-xeo-d-c-san-can-tho-11383-1990.html?page=3 Giac Mo Viet: Bánh xèo đặc sản Cần Thơ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011013634/http://giacmoviet.vn/cam-nang-du-lich/banh-xeo-d-c-san-can-tho-11383-1990.html?page=3|date=2018-10-11}}, Accessed October 10, 2018[https://www.npr.org/2011/10/18/141470565/banh-xeo-sizzling-crepes NPR Inc.:Banh Xeo (Sizzling Crepes)], Accessed October 10, 2018. cucumbers, and pickled vegetables, usually carrots and radishes. Lastly, its dipping sauce is nước chấm (sweet and sour garlic fish sauce). Elements of each side and sauce add to the fresh-tasting fried Bánh Xèo.{{Cite web |last=VIETNAM.COM |title=Banh Xeo: Through the Years |url=https://www.vietnam.com/en/news/article/banh-xeo-through-the-years.html |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=VIETNAM.COM}}
History
Bánh Xèo is a traditional street food in Vietnam. The working class mainly ate it because it was cheap and easy.{{Cite web |last=VIETNAM.COM |title=Banh Xeo: Through the Years |url=https://www.vietnam.com/en/news/article/banh-xeo-through-the-years.html |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=VIETNAM.COM}} Its origins are unknown. However, Vietnamese people agreed that the creation of this dish could be somewhere in Central Vietnam through the fusion of French culture from the French colonial times or South Vietnam by migrating immigrants moving into Vietnam and mixing with the surrounding culture.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-01 |title=Banh Xeo: A Guide to the Vietnamese Pancakes {{!}} Vietnamnomad |url=https://vietnamnomad.com/eat-drink/banh-xeo/ |access-date=2023-03-21 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=The Evolution of Bánh Xèo: A Street Food History {{!}} Saigoneer |url=https://saigoneer.com/saigon-food-culture/7905-the-evolution-of-bánh-xèo-a-street-food-history |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=saigoneer.com |language=en-gb}} Others believe Bánh Xèo came from mixing Cham culture and Vietnamese cuisine.{{Cite web |title=Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crepe) |url=https://shef.com/homemade-food/banh-xeo/ |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=Shef Cuisines 101 |language=en-US}}
Through the years, Bánh Xèo has expanded to other nearby Southeast Asian countries like Cambodia and Thailand. Bánh Xèo has become more popular as more affluent people started to realize its savory taste and new restaurants opening up like "Banh Xeo Muoi Xiem and An La Ghien", stated Saigoneers in 2016.{{Cite web |title=The Evolution of Bánh Xèo: A Street Food History {{!}} Saigoneer |url=https://saigoneer.com/saigon-food-culture/7905-the-evolution-of-bánh-xèo-a-street-food-history |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=saigoneer.com |language=en-gb}}
On the 2nd and 16th of each lunar month, some Vietnamese people would substitute Bánh Xèo for rice.{{Cite web |title=The Evolution of Bánh Xèo: A Street Food History {{!}} Saigoneer |url=https://saigoneer.com/saigon-food-culture/7905-the-evolution-of-bánh-xèo-a-street-food-history |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=saigoneer.com |language=en-gb}}
Variations
Regional variations include:File:Banh-xeo,-roving-street-vendor,-Quy-Nhon,-Vietnam.jpg
- Miền Trung (Central Vietnam) style Bánh Xèo tends to be smaller, about the size of a hand. Compared to the Miền Tây, the Miền Trung version has few fillings. Fillings include prawns, thin slices of pork, and bean sprouts.{{Cite web |title=Vietnamese Foods: Banh Xeo in Ho Chi Minh City |url=https://www.itourvn.com/blog/vietnamese-foods-banh-xeo-in-ho-chi-minh-city |access-date=2023-03-21 |website=i Tour Vietnam |language=en-gb}} As well as being darker or not as yellow as other variations because of the addition of fermented shrimp paste, adding a distinct taste and color to the dish.
File:Bánh xèo (15826153307).jpg
- Miền Tây (Mekong Delta) style Bánh Xèo tends to be larger than the Miền Trung version, usually about the size of a small to medium size pizza, about 12-inch diameter. However, they are generally thinner. Miền Tây offers a more diverse range of ingredients and fillings. Because of this, the color of the Bánh Xèo is usually brighter as the batter with turmeric and coconut milk creates a colorful yellow dish. Fillings include prawns, pork belly, green onions, fried onions, and bean sprouts.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-01 |title=Banh Xeo: A Guide to the Vietnamese Pancakes {{!}} Vietnamnomad |url=https://vietnamnomad.com/eat-drink/banh-xeo/ |access-date=2023-03-21 |language=en-US}} There tends to be more filling in the Miền Tây version as there is more growth in the south than north of Vietnam.
Bánh khoái
File:Banh Khoai (4265580561).jpg
Bánh khoái is a type of crispy pancake made from a batter of rice flour, water, and egg yolks. It is typically filled with shrimp, pork, and bean sprouts, and is shaped like a half-moon.{{Cite web |last=baodaknong.vn |date=2022-03-21 |title=Bánh khoái là bánh gì? Cách phân biệt bánh khoái và bánh xèo |url=https://baodaknong.vn/banh-khoai-la-banh-gi-cach-phan-biet-banh-khoai-va-banh-xeo-168144.html |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Báo Đắk Nông điện tử |language=vi}}{{Cite web |last=VnExpress |title=Lý giải tên gọi bánh khoái của người Huế |url=https://vnexpress.net/ly-giai-ten-goi-banh-khoai-cua-nguoi-hue-4239691.html |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=vnexpress.net |language=vi}}{{Cite web |last=danviet.vn |title=Bánh xèo, bánh khoái... vào top những món bánh ngon ở Đông Nam Á |url=https://danviet.vn/banh-xeo-banh-khoai-vao-top-nhung-mon-banh-ngon-o-dong-nam-a-20230512195840466.htm |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=danviet.vn |date=12 May 2023 |language=vi}} The batter is poured into a hot pan and cooked until golden brown. Bánh khoái is often served with fresh herbs and a dipping sauce.{{Cite web |last=VnExpress |title=Ba lần ăn bánh khoái cửa Thượng Tứ |url=https://vnexpress.net/ba-lan-an-banh-khoai-cua-thuong-tu-2893013.html |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=vnexpress.net |language=vi}}{{Cite web |title=Không ăn món này khi tới Huế là bạn đã sống uổng 1 đời |url=https://tieudung.kinhtedothi.vn/du-lich-am-thuc/khong-an-mon-nay-khi-toi-hue-la-ban-da-song-uong-1-doi-11639.html |access-date=2024-02-16 |language=vi}}{{Cite book |last=Ngoc |first=Lân Pham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3myLDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22b%C3%A1nh+kho%C3%A1i%22+%22b%C3%A1nh+kh%C3%B3i%22.&pg=PA47 |title=Cha Vô Danh: De père inconnu (version vietnamienne) |date=2019-02-28 |publisher=Editions L'Harmattan |isbn=978-2-14-011532-5 |language=fr}} The origin of the name "Bánh Khoái" has various explanations.{{Cite web |last=ONLINE |first=TUOI TRE |date=2016-06-08 |title=Ăn bánh khoái Thượng Tứ xứ Huế |url=https://tuoitre.vn/am-thuc/an-banh-khoai-thuong-tu-xu-hue-1114939.htm |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=TUOI TRE ONLINE |language=vi}}{{Cite book |last=Phan |first=Thuận An |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GUpRAQAAMAAJ&q=C%C3%B3+ng%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Di+cho+r%E1%BA%B1ng+nguy%C3%AAn+g%E1%BB%91c+ban+%C4%91%E1%BA%A7u+l%C3%A0+%22b%C3%A1nh+kh%C3%B3i%22. |title=Huế đẹp, Huế thơ |date=1997 |publisher=Nhà xuất bản Thuận Hóa |language=vi}} Some believe that the original name was "Bánh Khói".{{Cite web |last=thanhnien.vn |date=2004-10-28 |title=Bánh khoái Thượng Tứ |url=https://thanhnien.vn/banh-khoai-thuong-tu-185106455.htm |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=thanhnien.vn |language=vi}} Huế is famous for its Bánh Khoái Thượng Tứ, which is located southeast of the city's Citadel.{{Cite web |last=thanhnien.vn |date=2015-03-31 |title=Về Huế nhớ ghé bánh khoái Thượng Tứ |url=https://thanhnien.vn/ve-hue-nho-ghe-banh-khoai-thuong-tu-185458636.htm |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=thanhnien.vn |language=vi}}{{Cite web |date=2024-01-29 |title=Vietnamese pancake |url=https://antoursvietnam.com/vietnamese-pancake-banh-xeo/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=NLD.COM.VN |title=Bánh khoái của người câm |url=https://nld.com.vn/phong-su-ky-su/banh-khoai-cua-nguoi-cam-95495.htm |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Báo Người Lao Động Online |language=vi}}
Popularity
The dish is also popular in Cambodia,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gorMBAAAQBAJ |last1=Brouwer|first1=Andy|title=To Cambodia with Love: A Travel Guide for the Connoisseur |date=2010 |publisher=ThingsAsian Press |location=Phnom Penh|isbn=978-1934159088|page=15 |access-date=17 July 2017}} where the dish is called banh chao ({{langx|km|បាញ់ឆែវ}}).{{cite news|last1=Murray|first1=Bennett|title=Rasmey's restaurant makes a mean banh chao|url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/7days/rasmey%E2%80%99s-restaurant-makes-mean-banh-chao|access-date=17 July 2017|work=Phnom Penh Post}}
There is also a Thai version of bánh xèo called Khanom bueang Yuan ({{langx|th|ขนมเบื้องญวน}}). It is offered by some street vendors and is available at many Bangkok restaurants serving Thai or royal cuisine. The most common filling in Thailand is a minced mixture of shredded coconut, roasted peanuts, shrimp, salted radish and fried tofu and served with bean sprouts and sweet cucumber relish.
Similar dishes
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References
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External links
{{commons category|Bánh xèo|position=left}}
{{Cookbook|position=left}}
{{Bánh}}
{{Vietnamese cuisine}}
{{Pancakes}}
{{Street food}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banh Xeo}}
Category:Vietnamese rice dishes