Have you tried Vietnamese pizza aka bánh tráng nướng?
Throughout the streets of Vietnam, you will often come across food stalls with signs advertising “bánh tráng nướng.” Have you ever been curious enough to stop and try this delicious Vietnamese pizza? It’s a popular street snack that is typically sold at roadside stalls, especially during the cool evenings. The enticing aroma wafting from these bánh tráng nướng makes it hard to resist, drawing people in to order a steaming hot piece to enjoy while it’s still hot.
Why is it called Vietnamese pizza?
The reason bánh tráng nướng is called Vietnamese pizza is that its appearance is quite similar to traditional pizza, featuring a thin base topped with a variety of ingredients. However, what sets this dish apart is that instead of using wheat flour like in Italian pizza, Vietnamese pizza is made from rice paper, giving it a crisp and lighter texture. Additionally, it’s common for people to fold the bánh in half rather than cutting it into slices.
If you’ve ever tried Vietnamese pizza, you’ve likely enjoyed the crispy, thin rice paper grilled over charcoal, topped with fresh ingredients like sausage, shredded pork, seafood, and dried shrimp, all drizzled with a rich sauce. This unique combination truly embodies the essence of Vietnamese cuisine, making bánh tráng nướng a special treat.
Toppings for Vietnamese pizza
Rice Paper: Rice paper is made from rice, which is the main ingredient used to create the base of bánh tráng nướng. With its mild flavor and ability to easily complement other ingredients, rice paper is not only used for Vietnamese pizza but also appears in various traditional dishes like nem rán and bánh tráng trộn. The rice paper used for Vietnamese pizza is typically round, with a moderate thickness, and large enough to hold a variety of toppings without tearing.
Egg: Instead of using ketchup like in other types of pizza, eggs are the primary ingredient spread over the surface of the rice paper to create a binding layer. Quail eggs are commonly used because they are easier to work with than chicken eggs.
Toppings: The toppings for bánh tráng nướng can vary widely. A basic Vietnamese pizza typically includes eggs, sausage, ham, minced meat, dried shrimp, and seafood (depending on the location), along with chopped green onions. You can customize the toppings to your personal preference and request any additional ingredients you like.
Cheese: Cheese is an essential topping that adds creaminess to the bánh tráng nướng. In Vietnam, people often use Laughing Cow cheese, placing it on top of the pizza for extra flavor.
Sauces: Common sauces used include mayonnaise and chili sauce, which enhance the overall taste and add a flavorful kick to the dish.
With these ingredients, Vietnamese pizza becomes a delightful street food that blends a variety of flavors and textures, captivating food lovers all over Vietnam.
Making Vietnamese pizza at home
Vietnamese pizza is not only a popular street food sold throughout the streets but also a dish that is easy to make at home. You can try making it yourself with the following recipe:
Prepare the ingredients:
For the base: Rice paper
For the toppings:
- 100g shredded pork
- Sausage
- Shredded Pork (Chà Bông)
- 1-2 Quail Eggs (or chicken eggs if you don’t have quail eggs)
- Chopped Green Onions
- Laughing Cow Cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Chili Sauce
Instructions:
- Step 1: Saute the meat and slice the sausage, preparing all the ingredients in advance.
- Step 2: Heat a non-stick skillet over low heat and place the rice paper into the pan.
- Step 3: Crack the eggs and pour them evenly over the surface of the rice paper.
- Step 4: Add the toppings: meat, sausage, shredded pork, and chopped green onions.
- Step 5: Wait a moment, then sprinkle cheese on top of the Vietnamese pizza.
- Step 6: Once the edges are crispy and the pizza is cooked, drizzle the sauces over the surface and turn off the heat.
You can watch this video to learn how to make Vietnamese pizza:
Where to find Vietnamese pizza?
Street food stalls
Vietnamese pizza is a dish that is widely sold at street food stalls, with prices ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 VND. You should look for street food stalls in busy locations, such as markets, areas near universities, or famous tourist spots like Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City. In these places, you will see vendors using portable grills or hot pans to prepare Vietnamese pizza.
In Ho Chi Minh City, you can stroll along streets in District 1, the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, or food streets like Nguyen Van Chiem and Phan Xich Long. Visiting in the evening allows you to immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the bustling city while enjoying a crispy and hot Vietnamese pizza in hand.
Food night markets
Additionally, you can visit night markets for even more culinary options. Not only can you find Vietnamese pizza, but night markets like Ho Thi Ky Market, Ban Co Market, and Ben Thanh Market also offer a wide variety of other dishes such as bánh tráng trộn, gỏi cuốn, bún thịt nướng, bánh mì, bánh xèo, and grilled corn. These places are considered food havens in Ho Chi Minh City and are often very lively at night.
Explore more: Ben Thanh Street Food Market: Explore The Unique Food Town Hall
Food festivals
In large cities, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, food festivals are held regularly to promote cultural exchange through local cuisine. These festivals typically feature numerous stalls offering hundreds of different dishes that highlight the unique street food culture of Vietnam, including Vietnamese pizza. Major food festivals you can participate in include the Street Food Festival, Vietnamese Food Festival, and International Food Festival.
These articles will help you learn more about traveling in Ho Chi Minh City:
- Ho Chi Minh City Street Food: A Guide to the Best Eats
- 20 Things To Do In Ho Chi Minh City At Night
- 25 Unusual Things to Do in Ho Chi Minh City
Let’s savor Vietnamese pizza with Jackfruit Adventure
Are you ready to explore and enjoy Vietnamese cuisine through Vietnamese pizza? Not only will you savor Vietnamese pizza, but you’ll also have the chance to taste many other distinctive dishes of Vietnam through the cycling tour in Ho Chi Minh City by Jackfruit Adventure. On this journey, you will bike through narrow streets, stop at snack stalls, visit famous night markets, and take in the vibrant beauty of the city. So why wait? Start your adventure now—Jackfruit will accompany you every step of the way!
