15 Vietnamese-Inspired Recipes To Give You A Taste Of Vietnam
Mời mọi người ăn cơm—"bon appetit!"
When you think of Vietnamese food, what comes to mind? Banh mi sandwiches? Summer rolls? If you’re unfamiliar, let us take you on a tour of some of our Vietnamese favorites, from hearty protein-packed dinners to simple, flavorful side dishes (and even a drink too). Whether you’re looking for something super authentic or are into spins on classic Vietnamese flavors, we’ve got something for you. Check out our list of 15 Vietnamese recipes—some of these might just become your new favorite Asian food go-tos.
There are a few standout ingredients in Vietnamese food worth mentioning, particularly if you’ve never cooked with them before. One of them is lemongrass, a tough vegetal stalk with a herbaceous, lemon-y scent (not dissimilar to the way Froot Loops smell, tbh). Try our Gà Kho Xả Ởt, or braised lemongrass-chile chicken, for an introduction to the flavor in a juicy chicken dish. Another special ingredient in Vietnamese cooking is fish sauce, a sweet and funky sauce made from fermented fish. It helps make certain dishes common to many Southeast Asian cuisines feel particularly Vietnamese, often without making the dish taste at all fishy—add it to our coconut chicken curry, experience it in our green papaya salad, or use it to marinate pork for a banh mi sandwich to taste the extra level of mysterious umami it brings.
We’d be remiss not to shout out Nước Mắm Me, a Vietnamese tamarind dipping sauce that truly goes with EVERYTHING. Dip your summer rolls into it, marinate chicken wings or shrimp in it, or use it as a dressing for salad or a rice bowl. It’s so simple, and so adaptable—make it as sweet or as spicy as you like.
For more Asian menu inspiration, check out our favorite Thai recipes, Chinese food, and Indian recipes too.
Braised Lemongrass-Chili Chicken
Gà Kho Xả Ởt, which translates to Braised Lemongrass-Chili Chicken, is a juicy chicken recipe that will instantly transport you to Vietnam through the smells and tastes of lemongrass, chilies, and garlic.
Tamarind Dipping Sauce
Tangy, salty, spicy and sweet, this tamarind dipping sauce hits all the right notes. Nước Mắm Me is a great accompaniment to a simple grilled seafood or Vietnamese shrimp summer rolls.
Get the Tamarind Dipping Sauce recipe.
Classic Banh Mi
It's undeniable. Vietnamese Banh Mi is the PERFECT sandwich. Rich, savory meat combined with bright and crunchy homemade pickles stuffed into a fluffy baguette; what's not to love?! We love this version because it requires minimal ingredients but still packs a powerful punch of flavor.
Get the Classic Banh Mi recipe.
Vietnamese Braised Pork Belly
Thịt Kho Tàu is a salty-sweet dish of caramelized pork belly and marinated eggs. Hailing from South Vietnam (as evident by the use of coconut water in cooking), this flavorful dish is very beloved. Every family has their own take on the dish, and this is ours.
Get the Vietnamese Braised Pork Belly recipe.
Sinh Tố Bơ
Sinh Tố Bơ is a go-to hot weather treat in Vietnam. This delicious, velvety, pale-green milkshake will have you cooled down in no time. Condensed milk is used to heighten the naturally sweet and nutty flavors of ripe avocado. If that hasn’t convinced you to try it, the english translation of sinh tố bơ is “butter fruit smoothie”. SIGN US UP!
Get the Sinh Tố Bơ recipe.
Instant Pot Pho
This Vietnamese beef-bone based soup is usually chock full of noodles, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, thinly sliced round steak, or even meatballs. The true star, however, is the broth itself. But, if you ask any seasoned pho-fessional they'll tell you that making a proper broth will take you hours to develop the rich and complex flavors needed. If you want to try to recreate this broth without the same time investment, one of the best ways to do this is by using a pressure cooker!
Get the Instant Pot Pho recipe.
Green Papaya Salad
Southeast Asian green papaya salad can vary in terms of ingredients as well as spice level. The one thing they all have in common is the green fruit, so make sure to choose a super unripe one. At its unripened stage, it is crunchy and a refreshingly blank canvas flavor-wise: it has none of the tropical sweetness a ripened yellow papaya has.
Get the Green Papaya Salad recipe.
Summer Rolls
Gỏi Cuốn, or Vietnamese spring rolls, are usually filled with pork, shrimp, vermicelli noodles, and veggies, wrapped in Bánh Tráng, or rice paper wrappers. Pro tip: Soften rice paper sheets in warm—not hot—water to soften. Too hot and they'll stick to everything.
Get the Summer Rolls recipe.
Coconut Curry Chicken
Coconut curry chicken has TONS of variations; from Thailand to Vietnam, no two curries are exactly the same. Our Americanized version might be a bit untraditional, but trust us, it's delicious. Be sure to reach for full-fat coconut milk for an ultra-velvety sauce, and add a splash of fish sauce for more authentic Vietnamese flavor.
Get the Coconut Curry Chicken recipe.
Vietnamese-Cajun Shrimp Boil
Everyone around the Gulf Coast looks forward to the beginning of crawfish season and crawfish boils. In Houston—neighbor to New Orleans and home to one of the largest Vietnamese diasporas in the world—they've added a little flair to the traditional boil, birthing Vietnamese-Cajun cuisine. Vietnamese-Cajun boils start off similarly to a traditional boil; however they create an extra layer of flavor with ample garlic and waves of butter, along with a traditional Vietnamese seafood dipping sauce.
Get the Vietnamese-Cajun Shrimp Boil recipe.
Sticky Rice
Xôi mặn, or "salty sticky rice" is a classic Vietnamese dish that consists of glutinous rice served with a variety of toppings, ranging from peanuts, chicken, or even fruit (like in our mango sticky rice). This is a basic xôi recipe, so get creative!
Get the Sticky Rice recipe.
Banh Mi Kebabs
A classic classic bánh mì is one of the world's great sandwiches. An ideal way to get that classic bánh mì taste? With these kebabs! Par-cooked carrots and slightly sweet daikon grill up nicely with thick pieces of pork chop. And they're perfectly matched with a straightforward combo of fish sauce, soy sauce, and honey.
Get the Banh Mi Kebabs recipe.
Tofu Banh Mi
In this meat-free version of a Vietnamese classic banh mi, the pressed tofu will marinade twice: once quickly before cooking so it doesn’t soak up too much liquid and again after it’s cooked, to flavor it through. A French baguette will do the job, but getting your hands on an airier, lighter, thin-and-crisp-crusted Vietnamese baguette is the ultimate.
Get the Tofu Banh Mi recipe.
Shaken Beef
Bò Lúc Lắc, which translates to Shaken Beef (with lúc lắc being an onomatopoeic word for the sound of the beef cubes being shaken about in the pan, and bò meaning beef) is a Vietnamese dish that came about as a result of French colonization. Until the French arrived with their appetite for beef, cows were only seen as working animals (the way we see horses in America today). The more you know!
Get the Shaken Beef recipe.
Coffee Cupcakes with Condensed Milk Frosting
Similar to Thai iced tea, Cà Phê Đá is the Vietnamese version of coffee with sweetened condensed milk. These strong and rich coffee cupcakes are topped with a smooth and creamy condensed milk frosting that reminds us of that Vietnamese treat. Yum!
Get the Coffee Cupcakes with Condensed Milk Frosting recipe.
Mason Jar Ice Cream
Grilled Peaches
19 State Fair Recipes To Make At Home
15 Editor-Approved No-Bake Desserts
