Banh xeo is a famous and popular street food in Vietnam, especially in Saigon. With a crispy crust, shrimp, meat, bean sprouts and raw vegetables, banh xeo becomes a delicious and unique dish. When eaten with sweet and sour sauce and herbs, Saigon banh xeo brings a delicious, rich flavor that is unforgettable. In this article, we will explore how to make crispy banh xeo, authentic Saigon flavor, so you can easily make it at home.

1. Benefits and Flavors of Banh Xeo

Banh Xeo is a typical dish with a combination of crispy crust and various fillings inside. This dish is not only attractive in flavor but also rich in nutrition thanks to the combination of ingredients such as shrimp, meat, bean sprouts, and raw vegetables. When served with sweet and sour fish sauce and herbs, Banh Xeo becomes delicious, rich and balanced between sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavors.

Banh xeo also has many different variations depending on the region, but in Saigon, banh xeo is often made thinner and larger, with a crispier crust than in other regions. This is the characteristic that helps Saigon banh xeo become a famous dish not only in Vietnam but also loved by international diners.

2. Ingredients Needed

To make crispy Saigon-style pancakes, you need to prepare the following ingredients:

• 200g pancake flour (or rice flour)
• 100ml coconut milk
• 300g fresh shrimp (peeled, deveined)
• 200g pork belly (thinly sliced)
• 200g bean sprouts
• 1 onion (thinly sliced)
• Raw vegetables: lettuce, herbs, fish mint
• 1 egg (optional)
• Oil
• Fish sauce, sugar, lemon, garlic, chili (for dipping sauce)

The ingredients for banh xeo are very diverse and can be changed according to personal preferences. You can add shiitake mushrooms or button mushrooms to the filling to increase the deliciousness and flavor. In particular, coconut milk helps the cake crust to be more fatty and delicious.

3. How to Make Crispy Banh Xeo

Below are detailed steps to make crispy Saigon-style banh xeo:

Step 1: Prepare the Cake Dough

In a large bowl, mix the pancake mix with water and coconut milk according to the instructions on the package (usually 200g of flour with about 400-500ml of water). You can add an egg to help the dough stick better and give the cake a nice color. Stir the mixture until the flour is completely dissolved, no more lumps, then let the dough rest for about 20-30 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the filling

While the dough is resting, prepare the filling. After washing the shrimp and pork belly, stir-fry them with a little oil, salt and pepper. Stir-fry until the shrimp is firm and the meat is lightly golden brown. Thinly slice the onion, wash the bean sprouts and drain.

Step 3: Fry the Banh Xeo

To make crispy pancakes, you need to preheat the pan with a little cooking oil. When the pan is hot, pour a thin layer of batter in, quickly tilt the pan so that the batter covers the entire surface of the pan. Next, add shrimp, meat, bean sprouts and onions in the middle of the pancake. Cover and fry over low heat for about 3-5 minutes until the pancake is golden brown and crispy.

When the edges are golden brown, fold the pancake in half and fry for another minute. Repeat these steps until all the batter and filling are used up. Banh xeo is best eaten right after frying, while it is still hot and crispy.

Step 4: Mix the Dipping Sauce

Banh xeo will be more attractive when eaten with sweet and sour dipping sauce. To make the dipping sauce, mix 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of lime juice, and about 100ml of warm water. Add minced garlic and chili to create a delicious, spicy flavor.

Serve the pancakes on a plate, with raw vegetables and sweet and sour dipping sauce.

4. Change Banh Xeo According to Your Taste

Banh xeo can be easily adapted to your taste and available ingredients. Here are some suggestions for refreshing the dish:

• Vegetarian Banh Xeo: Replace the shrimp and meat with mushrooms, crispy tofu, and vegetables like broccoli and bok choy for a lighter version of Banh Xeo.
• Seafood pancakes: Replace pork belly with other seafood such as squid, crab, or scallops for a rich ocean flavor.
• Low-fat banh xeo: Use less oil when frying the pancakes and replace the pork belly with chicken breast or fish to reduce the amount of fat in the dish.

These variations not only bring novelty but also help banh xeo to suit many different tastes and nutritional needs.

5. Notes When Making Banh Xeo

To have a crispy pancake, you need to pay attention to the following:

• Heat the pan before pouring the batter so that the cakes are fried evenly and crispy. The pan needs to be hot enough, otherwise the dough will not be crispy but will easily become soft and sticky.
• Pour the batter very thinly, quickly tilting the pan so that the batter spreads evenly over the surface. This helps the pancake have a crispy crust and not be too thick.
• Don’t add too much oil, just a thin layer is enough to fry the pancake. Using too much oil will make the pancake greasy and lose its freshness.
• The filling should be stir-fried before being added to the cake, especially the meat and shrimp to ensure they are cooked evenly and not undercooked when fried.
• When frying the cake, keep the heat at medium so that the cake cooks evenly and does not burn. Covering the pan while frying will help the cake cook faster and stay crispy longer.

By following the above notes, you will have crispy, golden and delicious Saigon-style banh xeo to enjoy with family and friends.

6. How to Enjoy Banh Xeo Properly

Crispy Saigon pancakes will be more delicious when eaten with a variety of raw vegetables such as lettuce, fish mint, herbs, and perilla leaves. You can roll the pancakes with vegetables in rice paper, then dip them in sweet and sour fish sauce to enhance the flavor.

Add some crushed peanuts to the dipping sauce to create a rich and nutty flavor for the dish. In particular, banh xeo is best eaten hot, while the cake is still crispy.

This is an ideal dish for family or friends gatherings, because the way to make banh xeo is highly interactive. Everyone can fry the cake, roll it and enjoy it right at the table, creating a cozy and fun atmosphere.

Saigon pancakes

Crispy Saigon pancakes are one of the most unique and famous street foods in Vietnamese cuisine. With their rich flavor, ease of preparation and creativity, banh xeo has not only won the hearts of Vietnamese people but also attracted the love of international diners.

Banh xeo is a wonderful dish not only because of the combination of fresh ingredients but also because of the crispy crust, satisfying all senses when enjoying. This dish is associated with street food culture, where people can enjoy the cake while watching the vibrant life of Saigon.

Try this recipe now to experience the taste of Vietnamese street food right in your kitchen. Banh xeo is not only a delicious dish but also a connection between the maker and the enjoyer, bringing joy and happiness through each hot and crispy cake!