Ingredients

1/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/3 cup fish sauce
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 garlic clove , minced
1 Thai chile , thinly sliced
2 cups rice flour
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 cup water
1/2 cup beer
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup canola oil , divided
16 medium shrimp , peeled and deveined
1/2 cup bean sprouts
1/2 cup scallion , thinly sliced
pickled daikon and carrot
Thai basil , to garnish
mint leaf , to garnish
cilantro leaf , to garnish
1 cup crumbled bacon
1 head red leaf lettuce , leaves separated
Banh Xeo is a traditional Vietnamese savory pancake, a popular dish eaten in the Central, South, and Southwest regions of Vietnam. The pancake batter, yellow due to the addition of turmeric, is cooked in a hot skillet until crispy and golden, and then filled with shrimp, sliced pork belly or mushrooms, and an array of herbs and vegetables. Banh Xeo can be enjoyed any time of the day as a great brunch or lunch option, or as a main course at dinner gatherings. Its unique savory and salty flavor is irresistible.

Instructions

1.In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, water, rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, lime juice, minced garlic and thinly sliced Thai chile.
2.In another mixing bowl, combine rice flour, ground turmeric and kosher salt.
3.Gradually stir in 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of beer, 3/4 cup of coconut milk, and 1/4 cup of canola oil until well combined.
4.Add a splash of canola oil to a non-stick skillet, and heat over medium heat. Add peeled and deveined shrimp, and cook until lightly browned. Remove from skillet and set aside.
5.Add another splash of canola oil to skillet, and heat over medium heat. Pour 1/2 cup of the batter into the skillet and swirl to coat bottom of skillet. Cook until golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes. Flip pancake and cook for 1 more minute. Then, transfer to a plate.
6.Garnish the crispy pancake with cooked shrimp, bean sprouts, thinly sliced scallion, pickled daikon and carrot, Thai basil, mint leaf, and cilantro leaf. Top with crumbled bacon. Serve with red leaf lettuce leaves, and enjoy.

PROS

Banh Xeo is a delightful Vietnamese dish that is bursting with intense flavor, combining both sweet and savory tastes.
Crispness and lightness of texture garnered from the pancake sit in perfect contrast to the strong, aromatic flavors of the shrimp filling, and is also noteworthy for its use of fresh, healthy vegetables like bean sprouts and scallions.

CONS

The process of making the batter for the pancake can be quite time consuming and requires some skill to flip the crispy pancake without breaking it.
Banh Xeo also requires a number of exotic ingredients that may be hard to find in some areas.
Moreover, its calorie and fat intake is relatively high due to the use of coconut milk and bacon for seasoning the dish.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

Despite being a calorie and fat-rich dish, Banh Xeo does have some health benefits. Shrimp is a high-protein and low-calorie food that can aid in weight loss, while bean sprouts and scallions are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, and help in improving bone health.

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