Simple Vietnamese Recipes You’ll Regret Not Knowing Sooner In 2021

Simple Vietnamese recipes are becoming more and more popular. For example, there’re many chances that you’ve known about Banh Mi long before I wrote this article.

Vietnamese cuisine is said to be one of the most healthy and balanced in the world because there are a lot of vegetables and herbs included.

Featuring unique sauces’ nuoc cham’, a perfect combination of simple spices and herbs, most Vietnamese recipes become favorite dishes of foodies because they help them discover a whole new world of foods. The best part? Everybody can cook and enjoy them in the comfort of their houses.

Let’s start!

List Of Tasty And Simple Vietnamese Recipes

Below is a selected list of simple Vietnamese recipes that’ll you can begin with if you’re new to Vietnamese cuisine

Appetizer Recipes

1. Crunchy Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Goi Ga)
2. Vietnamese Papaya Salad
3. Vietnamese Hot And Sour Soup (Canh Chua)
4. Purple Yam Soup

Main Course Recipes

1. Shrimp Fried Rice
2. Vietnamese Egg Rolls (Cha Gio)
3. Pork Meatball Banh Mi
4. Vietnamese Beef Pho
5. Vietnamese Pork Meatballs with Rice Noodle Salad (Bun Cha)
6. Vietnamese Braised Pork with Eggs (Thit Kho Tau)
7. Peanut Sticky Rice

Side Dish Recipes

1. Vietnamese Style Caramel Chicken Wings
2. Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls
3. Vietnamese Pickled Vegetables
4. Vietnamese Crepes
5. Vietnamese Fried Tofu
6. Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables
7. Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad With Chicken
8. Winter Melon Soup with Meatballs
9. Vietnamese Cabbage Roll Soup

Dessert Recipes

1. Pandan Waffles
2. Vietnamese Iced Coffee
3. Steamed Rice Cakes (Banh Bo)
4. Sesame Balls Recipe (Banh Cam)

Simple Vietnamese Recipes You Can’t Have Enough

As Vietnamese people, Vietnamese foods are simple and yet still able to make others gradually fall in love with them. You might find fish sauce alone stinky, but it undeniably adds depth to the dish when incorporating it into the cooking.

The more you taste Vietnamese foods, the more you can’t have them enough and start to find a way to cook them at home. Right?

Delightful Appetizer Recipes

Let’s whip up some easy Vietnamese appetizers for your guests and make sure to double the batch because people will come back for more

1. Crunchy Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Goi Ga)

There are various versions of crunchy chicken salads across Vietnam. All of them are flavorful and suitable for summer days. This is a recipe you’ll like to print and keep in your back pocket for those moments when you want to refresh your taste buds.

2. Vietnamese Papaya Salad

This salad is more than meets the eye. It’s crunchy, refreshing, sweet, spicy, and a bit sour. As far as I know, it’s recommended that you use green papayas for the ultimate result. Remember to add mint and cilantro to round up the dish.

The best part? It takes only a few minutes to complete and doesn’t require any cooking efforts.

3. Vietnamese Hot And Sour Shrimp Soup (Canh Chua)

Although this soup will cost you a trip to the Asian market because it includes many Asian veggies and herbs, it surely won’t let you down.

In this recipe, shrimps are used to bring richness to the soup, but you can replace them with other seafood. Tamarind is also preferable to lime juice because it lends a milder sour taste to the dish.

4. Purple Yam Soup

This comforting soup will win the hearts of diners with savory flavors and vivid colors. For more protein, you can add finely chopped shrimp or ground pork. It’s best to serve warm with a bowl of cooked white rice.

Awesome Main Course Recipes

Savory and filling Vietnamese main course recipes are waiting for you in the following section. Let’s see

5. Shrimp Fried Rice

This recipe shows you a perfect way to use up leftover rice in your fridge. There is no strict rule about what you should toss into the pan. Besides peeled and deveined shrimps, I add diced carrots, green onions, and beans.

6. Vietnamese Egg Rolls (Cha Gio)

I am a big fan of Vietnamese egg rolls. When I have spare time, I often prepare a large batch and put them in the freezer. This way, I can fry them whenever I crave them.

For the ultimate treat, you serve these deep-fried egg rolls with “nuoc cham” which is made with fish sauce and other spices.

Although, this dish asks for many ingredients, it appears easier to make than you imagine.

Here’s how to make Vietnamese egg rolls. You can see this video to know more:

7. Pork Meatball Banh Mi

Pork Meatball Banh Mi is traditional street food in Southern Vietnam. It’s a must-try dish once you come to Vietnam, not only because of its yummy flavor but also because it carries the soul of local people.

Banh Mi is a winning combination of many ingredients which brings you a warm roll of various textures and aromas.

It’s one of the top choices for Vietnamese breakfast. However, feel free to enjoy it any time during the day.

8. Vietnamese Beef Pho

Many people believe that Pho is one of the most delicious soups globally, and so do I. If you plan to visit Vietnam, Pho is a must-try breakfast. The stock alone tastes flavorful and amazing.

It might take quite a lot of work to prepare Pho from scratch so you tend to seek help from store-bought Pho condensed broths but I truly don’t recommend so. Just follow the step-by-step cooking guice with patience and you can get the expected result.

9. Vietnamese Pork Meatballs With Rice Noodle Salad (Bun Cha)

Bun Cha combines tasty grilled Vietnamese meatballs, rice noodles, various fresh herbs, and pickled vegetables. It’s served with a special sauce which is prepared according to the typical taste of Vietnamese people.

You can easily find Bun cha on the street thanks to its mouthwatering flavors which comes from the grilled pork on the stove.

10. Vietnamese Braised Pork With Eggs (Thit Kho Tau)

Thit kho tau is my favorite dish of all time, and I often cook it to enjoy with warm white rice, especially at dinner. It’s also a great meal prep.

The secret of delicious thit kho tau is to use fresh coconut juice to braise the pork slowly. This way, your dish will taste more decadent, sweeter, and more savory. As for the meat, you can choose both pork belly and pork shoulder. The former often contains more fat than the latter.

Let’s upgrade your cooking skills with this Thit Kho Tau recipe. You can see this video to know more:

11. Peanut Sticky Rice

This filling and hot peanut sticky rice can be an ideal option for a satisfying yet simple breakfast. Glutinous rice and peanuts are cooked together using an electric cooker and often served with roasted sesame. In this recipe, you add coconut milk to enhance its flavor.

Scrumptious Side Dish Recipes

Grab a cold beer or your favorite drink, then enjoy along with these fantastic side dishes! Cheers and have a good time with family and friends.

12. Vietnamese Style Caramel Chicken Wings

You can enjoy this dish alone or better to eat with steamed rice and hot sticky rice. These sweet, spicy, salty, sour, and caramelized chicken wings can satisfy all your taste buds and make you crave more.

The best thing about this recipe is that it’s quick to make and can be a yummy meal prep. Typically, you will find it an excellent idea for lunch or dinner.

13. Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls

Fresh-tasting Vietnamese rice paper rolls are a healthy side dish you can treat your family members and friends all year round.

There are two ways to serve this snack: You can prepare all the ingredients and let people make rolls by themselves, or you can make everything ahead because rice papers are thin, so it might take time for people to deal with them.

14. Vietnamese Pickled Vegetables

Vietnamese pickled vegetables are perfect for Banh Mi because of their sour and sweet flavors, which combine well with Banh Mi’s filling.

You can prepare a jar of pickled vegetables at home without a few simple steps in no time. It’s also paired well with fish and chips, BBQ, spring rolls, noodles, and more.

15. Vietnamese Crepes

This is a delectable recipe full of shrimps, beef, cooked green beans, and bean sprouts. To make crepes crispier, the batter shouldn’t be too thick.

Vietnamese people prefer eating crepes when they are freshly made. It would be better to wrap half of a crepe with lettuce leaves and dip it into a sweet and sour sauce.

You can see this video to know more:

16. Vietnamese Lemongrass Fried Tofu

This straightforward recipe is oh-so-good and perfect for people who pursue a vegetarian diet. Adding lemongrass to fried tofu creates a fantastic aroma which you might drool just by smelling the dish.

17. Stir-Fried Mixed Vegetables

If you want to find a way to consume more vegetables in your meals, this dish is worth trying. It’s quick and simple to make so it’s perfect in case you need to whip up something for lunch or dinner.

There is no strict rule about what you should put in the wok; however, you might choose vegetables with various colors. This way, your dish looks more appealing.

It’s recommended that you should use fish sauce to enhance the overall flavor of the dish.

18. Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad With Chicken

If you’re running low on ideas for what to eat on hot days, I suggest that you try to cook Vietnamese rice noodle salad with chicken. It’s not only refreshing but also able to keep you full till the next meal.

This dish can be cooked in no time with a bit of preparation no other than searing several marinated chicken thighs.

19. Winter Melon Soup With Meatballs

Cooking winter melon soup with meatballs might be the most popular way to enjoy this vegetable.

Although winter melon has almost no taste, it will permeate the meaty flavor and become very delicious in this recipe. Nothing compares with some hot and healthy soup in winter.

20. Vietnamese Cabbage Roll Soup

This hearty and delicious soup contains meat-filled cabbage leaves and chicken broth. If it’s your first time cooking the dish, it might be a bit challenging to wrap ground pork without tearing cabbage leaves and how to tighten it properly.

Just remember to boil or steam leaves first so that they become softer and easier to handle.

Toothsome Dessert Recipes

Traditional Vietnamese desserts are said to be satisfying and tasty. They’re mostly made from simple ingredients and taste more delicate than desserts from other countries.

21. Pandan Waffles

Pandan waffles are a favorite Vietnamese snack that is straightforward to make and loved by kids. This dessert is often sold on the street and is a bit different from waffles you used to try. They feature chewy texture, bright green color with pandan and coconut flavor.

22. Vietnamese Iced Coffee

Sweet and satisfying Vietnamese iced coffee uses condensed milk instead of fresh whole milk to saturate the strong aroma of dripped coffee. It’s an excellent way to start a new day or boost your energy during break time.

If you’ve ever been to Vietnam, you might notice that nothing is easier than finding a local coffee shop that sells this drink at a cheap price.

23. Steamed Rice Cakes (Banh Bo)

One of my favorite Vietnamese snacks is banh bo. They might be called cow cake, crawl cake or sponge cake in English. It’s a perfect treat for your family and guests at the weekend.

People, especially children, will love these colorful and delectable steamed rice cakes. When serving, they’re dipped in thick and creamy coconut milk and topped with toasted sesame seeds.

Here’s a step by step guide on how to make steamed rice cakes. You can see this video to know more:

24. Sesame Balls (Banh Cam)

This Vietnamese doughnut features both crunchy and chewy textures. In my opinion, it tastes better when eating warm because its crust will be crispier.

In terms of filling, mung bean and coconut fleck paste seem to be a perfect combination. However, there’s no strict rule about the filling so that it could vary according to your taste preference.

What Are Your Favorite Vietnamese Recipes?

Have you ever been to Vietnam? Believe it or not, enjoying these mentioned recipes in Vietnam by chopsticks with local people will be much more interesting.

However, cooking them at home is always a good idea if you want to try new things or crave Vietnamese foods.

The best part? Most Vietnamese recipes in my article are quite straightforward and budget-friendly. They are also nutritious and satisfying.

If you’re ready to cook some Vietnamese dishes, it’s recommended that you buy a good quality bottle of fish sauce and some Vietnamese kitchen essentials.

For me, I like Vietnamese soups most, and often go to the Asian market and shop for ingredients for a week, then cook authentic Vietnamese dinner, I cook a bowl of soup depending on what I have in the fridge.

How about you? What are your favorite Vietnamese recipes? Which category do you like most?

Please drop me a line in the comment section if you have ever tried any recipe from my list.