Bánh xèo: Vietnamese pancakes that your guests will love

Hosting for the holidays? Instead of staying with the traditional turkey and ham, dazzle your guests by serving homemade bánh xèo, or sizzling pancakes, filled with shrimp and herbs. Or use tempeh or tofu for the veggie version! 

Bánh xèo is a popular Vietnamese street food. And for good reason—these crispy crepes are savory parcels of pure yum. Because they’re light, fun and infinitely variable, bánh xèo pancakes make great party food.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Makes 12-14 pancakes

Ingredients

Pancakes and garnish

• 150 g rice flour2 tsp turmeric
• 2 tbsp corn flour
• 125 ml coconut milk
• 250 ml sparkling water
• 1 tbsp fish sauce (omit for vegetarian version)
• neutral oil for baking
• 3 spring onions, finely chopped
• 200 g shoots (pea shoots, bean sprouts, etc.)
• 500 g cooked shrimp (or tempeh/tofu for vegetarian version)
• ½ head lettuce, leaves picked
• mixed herbs: Coriander, mint, Thai basil, shiso
• 12-14 sheets of rice paper

Vietnamese dip

• 50 ml of water
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 15 g of sugar
• 45 ml fish sauce (use sweet chili sauce for vegetarian version)
• 25 ml lime juice (1-2 limes)
• 2 cloves of garlic, cleaned and chopped
• 1 chili pepper, chopped

Preparation

1. Whisk the rice flour, corn starch, coconut milk, sparkling water and fish sauce together to make a smooth batter.
   
   
2. Heat a non-stick frying pan over a high heat, add half a tablespoon of oil and pour in a thin layer of batter.
   
   
3. Add an extra dash of oil and cook the pancake for 2-3 minutes until the top is dry.
   
   
4. Turn the pancake over and cook briefly on the other side.
   
   
5. Repeat with the remaining batter.
   
   
6. Mix together the ingredients for the dip.
   
   
7. Place the dip, shoots, lettuce, onions and herbs in bowls. Add a container of lukewarm water – soak a sheet of rice paper, then top it with a pancake and filling.