It’s the middle of August and finally the weather is at its normal high: sweltering and sultry. It is officially time to have mango. I decided to have pho but wanted something other than deep fried spring rolls as a side. This salad is perfect!
a mouthful of mango
Can you say “bun say-oh”? Bun. Say-oh. Easy enough. Equally easy, is remembering this dish after you’ve tried it. Simply called banh xeo, or sizzling crepe, it’s a fun dish to enjoy when you’re out with friends. It’s a crispy, bright yellow, half circle crepe/tortilla that resembles an omelette, although there’s no trace of eggs involved.
The batter used is a mixture of rice flour, water, chopped scallion, and tumeric powder, which gives it its yellow appearance. Depending on the cook, sometimes coconut milk is added.
shrimps and bean sprouts are visible
Some of you may already know that I am finishing up my degree to become a Registered Dietitian. And as such, I frequently am asked about making healthy decisions when eating out, and Vietnamese cuisine is no exception.
Vietnamese flavours
Luckily for us, Vietnamese food is generally considered to be healthy since Vietnam’s geographical location yields lots of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables which have been incorporated into the diet. Read more.
I love this dish. So I decided to make it…
lemongrass grilled pork
I started with a trip to my favorite organic store on the Danforth and picked up some pork chops. I recalled seeing fish sauce on the kitchen counter so I had one essential ingredient covered. The next most important ingredient: lemongrass. I love this plant. The resemblance is of green onion and sugar cane mating, they name her Lemongrass and smells of vanilla citrus. Interestingly enough, her other name is Citronella. Not only is she helpful in the kitchen she is also a great healer. Lemongrass calms our nerves and gently heals our insides, notably she is able to help detoxify the liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract.
Durian is one of the most expensive, and most luxurious fruits in the world, yet not everyone would go near it, let alone pay to eat it. It boggles the mind to try to understand how one fruit can divide the world into two sides; one praising it as the tastiest member of the fruit kingdom, while the other runs away upon detecting its odor.
a large durian tree with lots of baby durians
Sashi: Thanks for adding my tasty home cooked meals blog on your listing . Much thanks and appreciation. Sazzie...
Stay-At-Home-Chef: Great resource! Have found some great blogs thanks to your list. Would love to have my site listed...
Rita: I woould love to be on your list; I have been going through them and I see quite few that have not had postings...
Doc Savage: Every weekday, I create, cook, and post a new recipe. That’s five new recipes a week. I’m up...