Appetizers - Khai Vi
Spring Rolls - Cha Gio
Vietnamese spring rolls typically contain mungbean, marinated ground pork, carrots and glass vermicelli noodles wrapped in either an egg-based flour paper or a transparent rice-based paper to be deep fried and served with a sweet fish-sauce based dipping sauce. Cha gio is although similar to its Chinese counterpart - it typically has a more savoury, and less sweet, flavour to it.
Salad Rolls - Goi Cuon
Prepared entirely with fresh ingredients, goi cuon is a healthy alternative to the deep fried spring rolls. Vermicelli noodles, fresh lettuce, pickled carrots and daikon, steamed shrimps, mint leaves, coriander and bean sprouts are rolled in a transparent rice paper, to be dipped in a sweet peanut and oyster based sauce.
Other Names: Summer Roll, Fresh Roll
Shredded Pork Salad Rolls - Goi Cuon Bi
A less complex, yet equally delicious version of the goi cuon is the goi cuon bi. Bi describes pork that has been cured, shredded and mixed with chopped glass noodles to form a rather salty yet flavourful blend. Together with vermicelli noodles, it is wrapped with clear rice paper and is dipped in a light flavour fish sauce, or a sweet peanut and oyster-based sauce for those who do not prefer the fish sauce.
Other Names: Shredded Pork Summer Roll, Shredded Pork Fresh Roll
Lotus Stem Shrimp and Pork Salad - Goi Ngo Sen Tom Thit
Fresh lotus stems are tasteless when eaten by itself, despite it's slight juiciness and crunchy texture. In goi ngo sen tom thit, it is tossed with pickled carrots, shrimp (cooked and peeled), slices of cooked lean pork, thinly sliced onion and finely chopped polygonum leaves. A sweet fish sauce is then drizzled onto the salad for flavour, and finally topped with crushed roasted peanuts. Rather than using chopsticks, there is also the option of scooping the salad into deep fried shrimp crackers. A very fresh and healthy dish!
Papaya Salad - Goi Du Du
Papaya salad is a common dish that is often enjoyed in the summer time. Most chefs choose green papaya to grate into thin, but long pieces. The grated papaya is then soaked in a bowl of water with salt. Other ingredients include beef jerky, pork, shrimp, tomatoes, and other veggies. They are mixed together, and again, mixed in a sweet and sour dressing. The taste is cool and delicious, and if you love crunchy food, you have found the right one!
Mango Salad - Goi Xoai
Mango salad is a dish that is more commonly enjoyed at restaurants, rather than at home. Mango salad is prepared the same way as papaya salad. And like the papaya salad, it also has a cool taste with crunchy textures. And best of all, it has very low calories and is always a healthy choice.
Variations of This Dish: Chicken Mango Salad, Shrimp Mango Salad
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