A light and savory soup with cabbage, carrots, and whole shrimp as my protein of choice. The soup comes together in 20 minutes, making it perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Eat with another protein side dish for a complete meal with steamed rice.
Read MoreVietnamese Egg Roll, or Chả giò is a popular appetizer. The basic Vietnamese egg rolls consists of marinated ground pork, onions, woodear mushroom and thin cellophane noodles. The roll is then wrapped in rice paper and deep-fried until golden brown and crispy, and served alongside a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. This particular recipe is more vegetable-based with lots of carrots and cabbage.
Read MoreOne of the most popular Vietnamese salads is Gỏi Gà Bắp Cải. It's a refreshing salad of hand-shredded chicken, cabbage, carrots, onions and Vietnamese coriander; mixed with a sweet and savory fish sauce dressing; and topped with crunchy roasted peanuts and fried shallots.
Read MoreWhen eating a Vietnamese rice dinner, it's not a complete meal unless you have a soup side dish, also known as Canh. One of the quickest and simplest Canh is ground pork with cabbage. It can, however, look dull in a bowl. To fancy it up, I would stuff cabbage leaves with ground pork and tie it with a green onion, making cute little packages of savory goodness. The taste is the same whether I stuff the cabbage or not, but it makes a pretty presentation. It requires a little bit more labor but it's a great way to fish for the needed compliments once in awhile.
Read MoreKimchi is a traditional fermented vegetable side dish from Korea. It originated out of the necessity of preserving vegetables for the long winters. Now it is a staple in everyday Korean and other Asian households. Kimchi can be made out of any vegetables with the most popular being napa cabbage.
Read MoreA banana blossom salad made with red cabbage, white onions and red bell peppers, topped with minced mint, Vietnamese coriander, roasted peanuts and the same generous pour of fish sauce dressing.
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