Episode 2: Welcome to the empire of grilled and steamed winter snacks
In the previous episode, we introduced to you four yummy greasy and crunchy Vietnamese snacks. That can immediately boost your energy and mood during the freezing winter of Northern Vietnam. Following that, this second episode of “The Vietnamese dishes not to be missed” is going to give you some more Vietnamese winter snacks that you should try on your trip to Vietnam.
Unlike the last episode, that episode will bring you some winter snacks with the following 4 awesome dishes. We won’t let you wait any longer, let’s dive right in!
#1: Banh duc nong (hot steamed rice cake)
On a chilly winter evening, nothing is more satisfying than holding a hot bowl of banh duc nong (hot steamed rice cake) on your hands and enjoying every spoon of it. The main ingredient of this hearty dish is steamed non-glutinous rice flour which gives banh duc nong a soft, gooey texture. The broth used in banh duc nong is pork based. Each bowl of banh duc nong is garnished with a savory mixture of minced pork, chopped wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms and green onions. Fried shallots are also added to give a fascinating, crispy crunch to enhance the flavor. All the ingredients just combine and mix so well while still maintaining their distinct flavors. This balanced and flavorful dish will definitely make you crave more.
#2: Che troi nuoc (sticky rice balls in ginger syrup)
Che troi nuoc (sticky rice balls in ginger syrup) is an ideal snack suggestion if you have a sweet tooth. This tasty dessert consists of glutinous rice balls stuffed with mung bean paste. The rice balls are then boiled until done. Yet, the secret to a tasty bowl of che troi nuoc lies in the sweet soup that it is served with. This lovely soup is made of water, brown sugar and sliced ginger. The soup is cooked until it thickens and turns golden.
A portion of bánh trôi tàu should be served warm and have two to three rice balls covered in sweet soup and decorated with shredded coconut, crushed peanuts, roasted sesame seeds on top. The perfect combination of the rice balls’ gooey texture, the medium sweetness of the hot soup, and the aroma of ginger and other ingredients will make you fall in love with it right from the first try.
#3: Chuoi nep nuong (Vietnamese grilled banana in sticky rice)
One of the interesting winter snacks is chuoi nep nuong (Vietnamese grilled banana in sticky rice). Despite its humble appearance, this snack will give you fascination with each bite. Chuoi nep nuong is made of ripe bananas wrapped in sticky rice. The banana sticky rice rolls are then wrapped in banana leaves and grilled until the outside is golden.
Chuoi nep nuong is served hot off the grill with coconut milk and toasted sesame seeds. With just simple ingredients, yet, the dish gives you a wide range of textures and flavors. The outermost sticky rice layer is golden and crunchy after being grilled. There remains a thin layer of sticky rice inside that is still soft-chewy. And in the center is a whole sweet and tender banana. The aromatic fragrance from banana, coconut milk and banana leaves will undoubtedly excite your nose and wake up all your senses.
#4: Ngo nuong (Vietnamese grilled corn)
On winter nights, it’s not hard to come across people who stand on a stool, nibbling ngo nuong satisfyingly. Ngo nuong (Vietnamese grilled corn) has become a comfort snack to any Vietnamese folk when the weather gets cold. As the name suggests – it is freshly picked corn grilled on hot charcoal. The smoky scent of ngo nuong will undoubtedly wake up your senses, and you can always tell if there is a ngo nuong stall nearby due to the distinct aroma of husk-steamed corn. The corn kernels are grilled just right to make them moist and tender. Holding hot, smoky grilled corn, and gradually nibbling it in the winter would be an unforgettable experience that you have ever had.
Above are just some of our food suggestions to warm your body up in this cold winter of Northern Vietnam. Still, there are many more mouth-watering Vietnamese dishes that await you ahead. Stay tuned for other episodes of “The Vietnamese dishes not to be missed”, and don’t forget to contact our club, Hanoi E.buddies for amazing and full of fun free local tours around Hanoi. We’re always there to bring you great traveling experiences with our energetic student tour guides. Send you much love from Hanoi E.buddies!
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