How to Make Crispy and Delicious Central Vietnamese Pancakes (Bánh Xèo) Simple and Appealing

How to prepare Central region Bánh xèo

• 1

  Prepare shrimp and meat

  For the shrimp, after buying, use scissors to clean off the legs, antennae, and head, rinse with water, and wait for it to drain a bit.

  Wash the meat with water, slice it thinly for eating.

  How to reduce the smell of meat

  • You can reduce the smell of the meat by using salt and lemon to rub evenly over the entire piece of meat. After that, rinse with clean water 1-2 times and wait for processing.
  • You can also briefly boil the meat in boiling water with a few slices of smashed ginger; when the meat firms up a bit, you can take it out. Proceed with cooking as usual.

  

  
• 2

  Stir-fry shrimp and pork filling

  Place a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to sauté 1 teaspoon of minced onion and garlic. When the onion and garlic start to become fragrant, add all the sliced pork belly, seasoning with 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder and 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, and stir-fry evenly.

  When the pork starts to firm up and is nearly cooked, add the shrimp, seasoning with an additional 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, stir-frying until the shrimp is cooked through. Sprinkle a little ground pepper on top before turning off the heat.

  Tip: Stir-frying the filling until cooked before pouring the batter will help reduce the pouring time.

  

  

  
• 3

  Making minced meat dipping sauce

  Place a pot on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to sauté the remaining minced shallots and garlic until fragrant. When the garlic and shallots are aromatic, add all the minced meat and stir-fry evenly.

  Season with 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder and stir-fry until the meat is firm and dry, then add 1 teaspoon of annatto oil, mix well, and pour in 300ml of water.

  Bring the mixture to a boil, then add all 150g of pate and 2/3 tablespoon of peanut butter to the pot, stirring well. Dissolve an additional 1 teaspoon of cornstarch in a little water, then add it to the pot, mixing all the ingredients together. Adjust the seasoning to taste before turning off the heat.

  

  

  

  
• 4

  Mixing the pancake batter

  Put the pancake flour in a bowl, gradually add 2 cans of soda water, and mix the batter evenly. Let the batter rest for about 15 – 20 minutes.

  Tip:

  • Using soda to mix the batter will help the final product stay crispy longer.
  • You should gradually add the soda water to the flour while using chopsticks to stir to help the flour dissolve more easily.

  

  
• 5

  Pouring the pancakes

  Place a pan on the stove, add about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, then tilt the pan to spread the oil evenly. Use a ladle to scoop a sufficient amount of batter into the pan and spread it evenly across the surface of the pan.

  Add shrimp, meat, and a little bean sprouts on top, cover the pan for about 1 minute. When you see the pancake’s surface turn golden and crispy, gently use chopsticks to fold the pancake in half, and use a spatula to take the pancake out of the pan.

  Continue frying until all the batter is used.

  Tip:

  • After 1 minute, you can open the lid of the pan and drizzle a little oil around the pancake, which helps it become crispier and easier to remove from the pan.
  • You can also drizzle a layer of beaten egg around the edges of the pancake or directly on the top of the pancake to make it richer and tastier.
  • At home, you can use a small pan to make pancakes, but for the best taste and authenticity, you should use a cast iron pan to create thicker and crispier pancakes.

  

  

  

  
• 6

  Final Product

  So we have completed the Central Vietnamese crispy pancakes that are golden brown, delicious, and have an extremely attractive fatty taste. Inside, the filling also includes meat, shrimp, and bean sprouts, quite similar to the filling of southern pancakes, but the skin is thicker and softer when bitten into.

  Enjoy the crispy pancake wrapped with fresh vegetables and dip it in the fragrant, flavorful dipping sauce that you made yourself for an even better experience!