Vietnamese Bánh Bèo with Dried Shrimp Topping

Name: Vietnamese Bánh Bèo with Dried Shrimp Topping
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Appetizer
Ingredients: 1 cup rice flour; 1 cup water; 1/4 cup tapioca starch; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 cup dried shrimp; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 clove garlic; 1/4 cup scallions; 3 tbsp cooking oil; 2 shallots; 1/3 cup vegetable oil; 1/4 cup fish sauce; 1/4 cup water; 1 tbsp sugar; 1 lime; 1 chili

Deliciously Steamed Rice Cakes Topped with Savory Shrimp

A classic Vietnamese dish, Bánh Bèo is a delightful treat featuring delicate steamed rice cakes topped with dried shrimp, scallions, and crispy shallots.

1 h 45 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

Rice Cakes

1 cup rice flour

1 cup water

1/4 cup tapioca starch

1/4 tsp salt

Dried Shrimp Topping

1/2 cup dried shrimp

soaked in warm water

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 clove garlic

minced

Scallion Oil

1/4 cup scallions

finely chopped

3 tbsp cooking oil

Crispy Shallots

2 shallots

thinly sliced

1/3 cup vegetable oil

Fish Sauce Dip

1/4 cup fish sauce

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp sugar

1 lime

juiced

1 chili

sliced

Preparation

Marinating the Dried Shrimp

Soak Shrimp

Soak the dried shrimp in warm water for 15 minutes, then drain.

Mince Shrimp

Minced the soaked shrimp finely.

Cook Shrimp and Garlic

Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, then add the minced shrimp. Cook for another 4-5 minutes, set aside.

Preparing the Rice Cake Batter

Mix Ingredients

In a bowl, mix rice flour, tapioca starch, water, and salt until smooth.

Strain and Rest Batter

Strain the batter to remove any lumps. Let it rest for 30 minutes.

Make sure to strain the rice flour batter to ensure a smooth texture. Pro Tip: Use a ladle to pour the batter into the molds for even-sized rice cakes.

Cooking Process

Steam Rice Cakes

Pour the rice flour batter into small dishes or Bánh Bèo molds until each is halfway full. Steam for 5-7 minutes or until set.

High heat

Prepare Scallion Oil

Heat 3 tablespoons of oil, then pour over the chopped scallions in a heatproof bowl. Mix and set aside.

Fry Shallots

Heat 1/3 cup of oil, fry the thinly sliced shallots until golden brown and crispy. Drain and set aside.

Medium heat

Plating & Serving