Lunar Year officially ends for 2021- “Banh Chung”

Today after 15 days of reminiscent childhood foods and good feastings, Lunar New Year celebrations officially come to an end.

Pictured above is Bánh Chưng, a traditional Vietnamese food eaten during Lunar New Year (Tết) 🇻🇳 and is made from glutinous rice (aka sticky rice), mung beans, pork belly that is tightly wrapped in aromatic phrynium or banana leaves. A sign of a good banh chung is one that's super meaty, solid, and tightly rolled.

My parents mailed this to me for the New Year and what I love about their recipe is the use of fresh coarsely grated peppercorns. It just pairs so nicely with the soft tea aroma from the green dyed rice from the banana leaves.

Growing up as kids, my parents would fry the leftovers into crispy pancakes and would serve it with Maggi (buy only the German or European Maggi!) and my mom's fish dipping sauce (nuoc mam) use Vietnamese 3 crab brand or Red Boat.

Recipe for Nuoc Mam can be found -here-.

The trick to these pancakes is to microwave these till they are very soft and hot, then mashing it in a nicely oiled non-stick or cast iron pan and getting these super crispy!

Here's to 2021, but having this sent to me, it's already off to a good start!

History of Banh Chung-

“According to Vietnamese history, Banh Chung originated in the Hong Bang Dynasty during the reign of the 6th Hung emperor. When he became too old to rule and needed someone to inherit his throne, he held a cooking contest for his 21 sons, of which the winner will become the next ruler. While most of the princes travelled far and wide to look for a one-of-a-kind food that will win the approval of their father, Lang Lieu, the 18th son, stayed home, not by choice but mainly out of necessity. He was the poorest and loneliest of the lot and couldn't afford to travel or buy exotic foods.”

In the end it was Lang Lieu that impressed his dad the most.

Vietnam.com