The folk cakes of the South are simple but delicious

The rustic dishes with bold countryside impressions made from rice grains, cassava roots, potatoes, … associated with the reclaiming period have become specialties of the South.

Banh Khot

Although appearing in many places with many names, Ca Mau people are used to calling this banh khot.

If you want to have a delicious cake, you must soak the rice first, then drain a lot of water for the white rice grains, mix in about a cup of rice (to cool) and a little grated coconut (leave the body intact) and grind it all together with a stone mortar. When you have a smooth, medium-fluid powder, season with spices, finely chopped onions, pepper… stir well. Thanks to mixing rice and coconut, the cake “out of the oven” is both spongy, chewy, and very delicious. Cakes can be eaten with raw vegetables, cucumbers or just eaten with spicy and sour fish sauce, but must be eaten hot.

Banh Xeo

During the process of reclamation, exiles from the North, Central Vietnam to the South simplified the local dishes in an open and liberal way: the Central Coast pancake had to be cast in a mold, and to the South, it was poured freely in any place. any pan.

Pancake flour is made from finely ground rice flour mixed with coconut milk in the right ratio so that the cake is both crispy and chewy, fragrant with coconut flavor but not too fatty. If the cake wants to be crispy and delicious, the dough must be spread very thinly all over the pan. Because the cake is thin and cooks quite quickly, it must be done evenly and skillfully, just taking it out a little early will still have the smell of flour, but if it is too cooked, the cake will be pasty.

Under the skillful hands of the chef, banh xeo appears like a work of art of smell and taste. The accompanying dipping sauce is also very well prepared from fish sauce and spices, with the sour color of lemon or vinegar and a slight spicy taste of chili, bringing a very familiar but strange taste.

Jaggery cake

Visitors to Hang Pagoda (Kien Giang) are invited by Khmer children here to buy a specialty cake of this land: jaggery cake placed in bamboo baskets, looking very pretty. Jaggery cake is a rustic cake of the Khmer people in the South. Only Khmer people can make delicious and flavorful cakes.

Banh bo

Banh bo is a familiar dish for Southerners, present in many festivals such as weddings, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries… The name also comes from the shape of the cake, when steamed on a cot, the cake is cooked. blooms, crawls on top of the cup, so it’s called banh bo (bo means crawl).

Cassava bread

From a difficult time, together with sweet potatoes, tapioca (tapioca), became an ingredient for a filling dish that satisfied an entire generation. Currently, this rustic cake is present in all the caves and alleys in Can Tho city. Strolling out to Ninh Kieu Wharf to enjoy the breeze or walk in front of the school gate, follow the roads, visit small alleys…where one can easily see that country cake.