Banh Xeo Vietnamese Bean Sprout Pancake Recipes

BANH XEO (VIETNAMESE CREPES)

Steps:

• Mix rice flour, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and turmeric together in a large bowl. Beat in coconut milk to make a thick batter. Slowly beat in water until batter is the consistency of a thin crepe batter.
• Heat 1 1/2 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot and garlic; cook and stir until fragrant but not browning, 1 to 2 minutes. Add shrimp; saute until cooked through and opaque, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with fish sauce and salt. Transfer filling to a bowl.
• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).
• Wipe out skillet and reheat over medium heat. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoon oil. Stir crepe batter and pour 1/2 cup into the hot skillet, swirling to coat the bottom. Lay 3 or 4 of the cooked shrimp on the bottom half of the crepe. Top with a small handful of bean sprouts. Cook until batter looks set and edges start to brown, about 1 minute. Fold crepe over and slide onto an oven-safe plate.
• Place crepe in the preheated oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter and filling.
• Serve lettuce leaves alongside filled crepes. Break off pieces of crepe and roll up in lettuce leaves to eat.

BANH XEO VIETNAMESE BEAN SPROUT PANCAKE

Steps:

• Use the peanut oil or other neutral tasting oil.
• Press the tofu to remove as much water as possible.
• Peel and slice onions.
• Slice the mushrooms. Wash sprouts and set aside to drain.
• The tofu should be 1/4 inch square and 2 inches long when you slice it.
• Now heat oil over high heat and place the mushroom, tofu and onion in a single layer on bottom of pan. Saute over high heat until vegetables are browned on bottom.
• Whisk flour, turmeric, water and milk to form thin batter. When tofu is ready add batter to pan slowly. You don't want the veggies to float to the edges. And tilt carefully to distribute batter evenly.
• Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Place sprouts on 1/2 pancake and cook for two or three more minutes until you see the underside of pancake is golden and crispy when you check edges.
• Fold pancake over sprouts and slide onto serving plate.
• Make sure each person gets lettuce and mint leaves. TO eat cut off pieces [bite size]and wrap in lettuce leaf with mint and a bit of chili sauce.
• Do not depend on the time. Use desired results to tell you when the next step or when it is done.

BANH XEO (VIETNAMESE SHRIMP PANCAKES)

Steps:

• Marinate the shrimp and pork loin with the fish sauce and MSG in a glass or ceramic bowl for 30 minutes.
• Mix rice flour, water, coconut milk, green onions, and saffron powder.
• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Drop 1/4 of the rice flour mixture and fry a large, thin pancake until bubbles form and the edges are dry, 3 to 4 minutes.. Put 1/4 of the shrimp and pork mixture on the pancake. Reduce heat to medium, add 1/4 of the bean sprouts and basil, flip, and cook until browned on the other side, 2 to 3 minutes. Fold pancake in half and transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining batter and filling.
• Mix lime juice, fish sauce, water, sugar, red chiles, garlic, and MSG for sauce together. To eat, roll the pancakes up together in a mustard green leaf and dip in the sauce.

BANH XEO

Steps:

• Make the batter: In a small bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, salt and turmeric. In another small bowl, combine boiling water with coconut milk, then slowly drizzle into dry mixture, whisking constantly until smooth. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.
• Make the pancakes: Divide the shrimp and bacon into 4 equal portions and season with salt. Season bean sprouts separately with salt. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Add a single portion of shrimp and bacon and cook, stirring, until no longer raw, about 2 minutes. Spread shrimp and bacon in a single layer.
• Whisk scallions into batter until well blended. The batter should be slightly thicker than heavy cream. Add a little water, if needed. Pour 1/2 cup batter into skillet, distributing over and around the filling. Tilt pan to coat the bottom of the skillet. (Pancakes should be 8 to 9 inches wide.) Fill in holes with more batter, if necessary. Scatter 1/2 cup bean sprouts over the pancake, cover skillet and cook until sprouts soften, about 2 minutes.
• Uncover and cook over medium-low until pancake is golden and crispy underneath, about 3 minutes longer. Slide a spatula underneath the pancake and fold it in half to enclose the filling. Transfer pancake to a serving plate. Repeat with the remaining batter and fillings.
• Serve pancakes with lettuce leaves, herbs and nuoc cham. Using scissors, cut pancakes into small pieces. Lay out a lettuce leaf and fill with a piece of pancake. Top with herbs, wrap and dip into nuoc cham.