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The Age
28-05-2025
- General
- The Age
Vietnamese crepe recipe: How to make banh xeo
Chef Thi Le, co-owner of beloved Melbourne restaurant Anchovy, reveals the secret to lacy-edged savoury crepes. , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Banh xeo wields mass appeal, but the savoury crepe is one of the more complex dishes in the Vietnamese cook's repertoire. There is no right or wrong way to make banh xeo but when done right, it should have a thin, crisp, almost lacy shell. In Vietnam, the size of banh xeo gets larger as one moves further south. And the dipping sauces and accompaniments vary, from my favourite mustard leaves, through to rice paper and even star fruits and figs. The fillings vary, too. My go-to is fresh bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms and garlic flowers. I also love eating banh xeo in spring, with a bounty of spring vegetables. It is a nice way to shake it up from the pork, prawn, mung bean or bean sprout combo common in Australian Vietnamese restaurants. Thi Le, author of Viet Kieu by Thi Le with Jia-Yen Lee. Mark Chew I remember watching Mum make banh xeo when I was a child. What I found fascinating then – and that fascination has not diminished over the years – is that Mum always had by the stove a hunk of pork fat, greasy and sticky, ready to be run over the surface of her wok. It left just the right amount of lubrication, in a way that a calculated spoonful of oil or a spray of fat-in-a-can could never do. A lesson for anyone attempting banh xeo at home: Mum still doesn't believe she has mastered the craft and spends a good part of every year thinking about the next tweak she can introduce to yield an even crispier and more delicate shell. Banh xeo from Viet Kieu. Mark Chew Banh xeo This recipe has been provided by Emily Hua, a Sydney-based Viet Kieu (someone of Vietnamese heritage living in the diaspora), who also helped cook on the book's photo shoot. Resist the temptation to overfill your banh xeo; it will make the dish sloppy. Focus on how much batter to pour into your particular pan – practice makes perfect. INGREDIENTS Batter 200g rice flour 6 tbsp cornflour 8g ground turmeric pinch of sea salt 400ml filtered water 300ml coconut cream (Kara brand) 2 tbsp coconut oil 40g garlic chives, chopped into 1cm lengths neutral-flavoured oil, for frying Filling 150g dried split mung beans, soaked in cold water overnight 3 tbsp vegetable oil 400g Brussels sprouts, quartered 250g brown onions, thinly sliced 400g winged beans, thinly sliced 1 garlic clove, crushed pinch of sea salt 300g fresh palm hearts (see note) 250g bean sprouts, rinsed To serve 2 heads lettuce, such as butter, cos or mustard lettuce, leaves separated 2 bunches mustard leaves 1 bunch each of sorrel, mint, Vietnamese mint, fish mint and shiso, leaves picked or whole (see note) nuoc cham (recipe below) METHOD Prepare the batter. Place the rice flour, cornflour, turmeric and salt in a large bowl and mix until well combined. Add the water, coconut cream and coconut oil and mix well to ensure there are no powdery clumps. The batter should be homogenous and thin, with a yellow tinge from the turmeric. If required, add a little more water to loosen the batter. Stir in the garlic chives, then set aside to rest at room temperature for at least 1 hour. Prepare the fillings and serving garnishes. Steam the mung beans for about 12 minutes, until soft, then set aside. In a wok, heat the vegetable oil over medium–high heat. Stir-fry the Brussels sprouts, onion, winged beans and garlic with a pinch of salt for 3–4 minutes until just cooked. Remove from the heat and set aside, along with the palm hearts and bean sprouts. Arrange your leafy wrappings and herbs on a platter, ready for serving, and pour the nuoc cham (see recipe) into individual dipping bowls. Cook the batter. Arrange your frying oil, batter and fillings so they are easily accessible from the stove – banh xeo happens quickly. Using your best non-stick frying pan or wok on the largest flame or highest heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil and swirl to evenly coat the pan. Discard the excess oil. Swirl roughly 120ml of batter into the pan to evenly coat it. Turn down the heat and cook for 3-4 minutes. While the banh xeo cooks, add a drizzle of oil around the edges. This will help it become crispier and pull away from the pan. In the centre of one side of the banh xeo, add roughly 75g of stir-fried vegetable mix, and about 50g of bean sprouts and palm hearts. Using a flat spatula, fold the banh xeo into a half moon. Let it cook for an additional minute. Gently slide it out from the wok and serve immediately. Repeat with the remaining batter and fillings. To eat: Break off some of the banh xeo with your hands, making sure to get some filling. Add it to a lettuce leaf along with your choice of herbs, roll it up, then dip into your nuoc cham. The idea is to master the art of wrapping because the banh xeo will disappear fast! Makes 8–10 Notes: If fresh palm hearts are unavailable, use canned palm hearts. Pick a brand with a lower sodium content and drain thoroughly. Tinned palm hearts are much softer in texture than fresh ones, so don't cut them too finely. If you can't find sorrel, Vietnamese mint, fish mint or shiso, any soft herbs such as flat-leaf parsley, sweet basil, or dill would be great. Nuoc cham Make a sizeable batch and keep it in your fridge, adding aromatics such as fresh chilli and garlic paste or fresh citrus juice (lemons or limes) as required. INGREDIENTS 250ml (1 cup) rice vinegar 250ml (1 cup) fish sauce 250ml (1 cup) water 250g sugar METHOD Mix all the ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to the boil, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Pour into a sterilised jar and seal. Your nuoc cham base will keep for up to 4 months in the fridge, to use as required. Makes about 750ml (3 cups) The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox. Sign up
NZ Herald
03-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
A recipe for Gà Rô Ti: Grilled spatchcock, Vietnamese style
Thi Le shares a personal iteration of a classic Vietnamese dish from new cookbook Viet Kieu. Roasted chicken is a simple joy. When I first considered starting my own business, I intended to open a chicken rotisserie – something I could manage on a small scale, with really delicious roast chickens. I was only deterred by the difficulty of acquiring an inexpensive rotisserie. The irony of gà rô ti is that the chicken is actually panfried, not roasted. The name is borrowed from the French poulet rôti, but households in Vietnam did not traditionally own an oven. (This deficit is the reason flans in Vietnam have typically been steamed rather than baked.) I like using a spatchcock for this dish. In this instance, spatchcock refers to both the noun, a younger bird, and the verb, with the bird splayed out flat. GÀ RÔ TI RECIPE Serves 1–2 1 × 400g spatchcock (Cornish game hen) Marinade 100g red Asian shallots 20g fresh ginger 20g fresh turmeric 20g (¾ oz) garlic cloves 30ml fish sauce 30ml light soy sauce 1 Tbsp vegetable oil 2 tsp raw sugar 1 tsp cracked white pepper 1 tsp Chinese five spice 1 tsp măc khén or native Australian pepper To serve Glutinous (sticky) rice Vegetable pickle (see below) Châm chéo (see below) Prepare the spatchcock. Pat the spatchcock dry with paper towel. Place the bird, breast side down, on a chopping board, with the neck facing towards you. Using a pair of kitchen scissors, split the spatchcock into two pieces, down the breastplate and backbone. Marinate the spatchcock. Peel the shallots, ginger, turmeric and garlic cloves and roughly chop. Place in a blender or food processor and blitz until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl, add the remaining marinade ingredients and mix together well. Add the spatchcock, gently tossing to coat. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 4–6 hours. Cook the spatchcock. Start a barbecue. While bringing the grill up to medium heat, I like to smoke my meats for 20–25 minutes to impart a smoky flavour. After smoking, the bird's skin starts to dry and show a light amber colour. When the spatchcock is smoked and the barbecue is at medium heat, grill for 8–10 minutes, flipping the spatchcock to ensure even cooking on the surface. Probe the meat to check it is done – it should reach 76°C (169°F) at its thickest part. Rest for 20 minutes before serving with the sticky rice, vegetable pickle and chẩm chéo. VEGETABLE PICKLE Makes 1 × 900ml jar 150g carrot 150g daikon (white radish) 150g kohlrabi 100g red Asian shallots 3 Tbsp table salt 400ml rice vinegar 210g granulated white sugar 2½ tsp sea salt 1½ tsp black peppercorns, toasted and coarsely cracked A basic vegetable pickle for use with nước chấm (page 34) or to accompany a cuốn platter or part of a meal. Peel the carrot, daikon, kohlrabi and shallots, then slice them about 3 mm (⅛ inch) thick. Place in a bowl, sprinkle with the table salt and leave to sit for 30 minutes. Wash the vegetables to remove the excess salt. Shake them dry and place in a large sterilised jar. Place the remaining ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil to dissolve the sugar and salt. Pour the pickling liquor over the vegetables. Leave to stand overnight with the lid ajar. The pickles can be eaten the next day, but are best eaten after 3–4 days. After this time, seal the lid on the jar and keep in the fridge, where your pickles will last for up to 6 months. CHM CHÉO (GREEN CHILLI & MẮC KHÉN RELISH) Makes 100g 3 green scud chillies, roughly chopped 1 red bird's eye chilli, roughly chopped 1 tsp sea salt 1 Tbsp mắc khén or mountain peppercorns 3 garlic cloves, peeled 30g young tender lemongrass 30g coriander (cilantro) leaves, roughly chopped 30g calamansi juice or lime juice In a mortar and pestle, pound the chillies with the salt, mắc khén and garlic until smooth. Add the lemongrass and pound, then incorporate the coriander. Add the calamansi juice, to taste. It should be peppery, a little spicy, citrusy and seasoned. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. From sensational food to travel tips. Where To Go For The Best Vietnamese Food In Auckland. Jesse Mulligan shares his advice. Travel Diary: India Hendrikse Makes The Most Of A Holiday In Hanoi. Vietnam's capital will pull you into its rhythm. How to make Mì Xào Giòn Đồ Biển. Done well, this crispy egg noodle and seafood dish is the stuff dreams are made of.
NZ Herald
01-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
How to make Mì Xào Giòn Đồ Biển: Crispy egg noodles with seafood
Done well, this dish is the stuff 'dreams are made of', says Thi Le, who shares the recipe in the new cookbook Viet Kieu. This is a staple dish across the menus of Melbourne's Viet–Chinese eateries. The good versions are stuff that dreams are made of, and the questionable versions are very much questionable. I like my egg noodles straddling the apex of crisp and just softened by the heat of the sauce between the time it was spooned over the noodles to the time the dish was walked to the table. I like the sauce with just enough gloop to coat but not so much to glue. I love my seafood fresh and just cooked. I have bitten into mouthfuls of cold (sometimes still frozen) imported seafood, ammonia- or chemical-laced, often texturally lifeless. I will take the natural sweetness and the tactile snap of a wok-licked local prawn any day. MÌ XÀO GIÒN ĐỒ BIỂN RECIPE Serves 1–2 200g fresh egg noodles 60ml (¼ cup) vegetable oil, plus 1 tsp for noodles 20g ginger, peeled and sliced 2 red Asian shallots, sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 6 spring onions (scallions), white parts cut into 5 cm (2 inch) batons 150ml chicken stock or water 60g squid, cleaned, cut into chunks and lightly scored in a crosshatched pattern 2–3 prawns (shrimp), shelled and deveined 60g firm white fish fillets ,such as John dory or barramundi, cut into chunks 70g broccolini (tender stem broccoli), cut into chunks 30g Chinese celery, cut into 5cm (2 inch) batons Slurry 1½ Tbsp cornflour (cornstarch) 3 Tbsp cool water Sauce 1 Tbsp soy sauce 1 tsp fish sauce 1 tsp oyster sauce Pinch of raw sugar Pinch of cracked white pepper Prepare the noodles Loosen the fresh noodle pucks, then blanch in boiling water for about 50 seconds. Rinse under cold water until cool, vigorously shake out any excess water, and let drain. Set aside. Make the slurry In a small bowl, combine the cornflour and cool water, mixing well until smooth. Set aside. Make the sauce Combine all the sauce ingredients in a bowl, stirring until dissolved. Set aside. Fry the noodles Heat the 1 teaspoon of oil in a large wok or frying pan over high heat, then reduce to medium. Add the cooked noodles, spreading them out evenly. If they start to stick, add another splash of oil. Once the noodles start to char, flip them to char the other side. Be careful not to burn them. Transfer the crispy noodles to a plate and keep warm. Rinse and wipe out the wok. Cook the seafood and vegetables Heat the 60ml of oil in the wok over medium heat. Add the ginger, shallot, garlic and spring onion batons; stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Add the squid, prawns and fish, stirring occasionally for 2 minutes. Add the slurry and sauce mixture, along with the broccolini. Stir fry for 2–3 minutes until the broccolini is just cooked. Remove the wok from the heat and toss in the Chinese celery. To serve: Serve the seafood and vegetable mixture over the fried noodles. A taste of Vietnam From sensational food to travel tips. Where To Go For The Best Vietnamese Food In Auckland. Jesse Mulligan shares his advice. Travel Diary: India Hendrikse Makes The Most Of A Holiday In Hanoi. Vietnam's capital will pull you into its rhythm. Hanoi Haven Serves A Knockout Duck Curry. And it's worth heading to Hurstemere Rd for.
