Go Back

Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Sizzling Pancakes)

Banh xeo is a crispy, savory crepe or pancake made of rice flour and coconut milk. Although it looks like an omelet, it has no eggs; the color comes from turmeric. It is naturally gluten-free and typically stuffed with pork, prawns, and vegetables.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Resting Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Light Meal, Snack, Street Food
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: Banh Xeo
Servings: 8
Author: kanthi

Ingredients

For the batter

  • 200 g rice flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch optional
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 200 ml thick coconut milk
  • 300 ml water adjust as needed
  • A few spring onions finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons oil for cooking

For the filling

  • 1 medium onion cut into thin wedges
  • 200 g Pork thinly sliced
  • 8 cooked prawns peeled
  • 100 g bean sprouts
  • cooked mung beans

For Nuoc Cham

  • 4 tbsp fish sauce
  • 4 tbsp fresh lime juice or lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 fresh red chill halved, deseeded, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove finely chopped

For Serving

  • Lettuce leaves separated and washed
  • Your choice of fresh herbs coriander, mint etc.
  • Steamed mung bean sprouts
  • Cucumbers sliced
  • 1 medium carrot thinly sliced

Instructions

  • Start by making the dipping sauce. Place the lime juice, sugar, fish sauce, and water in a small bowl. Mix until the sugar is dissolved. Add the garlic and chilies and mix well. Can be stored for up to 5 days in the fridge.
  • In a large bowl, combine rice flour, cornstarch, salt, sugar, and turmeric. Add water, and coconut milk, and mix until you have a smooth batter. Add the chopped spring onions and mix. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, season the pork with a pinch of salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  • Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and stir-fry the onion and pork until cooked through. Add the shrimp and stir-fry for 1 minute. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Transfer to a plate.
  • Wipe the pan clean if you use the same pan to make pancakes. Heat the pan again over medium-high and generously brush with oil. Stir batter to mix well. Then, add a ladleful of batter. Quickly, tilt the pan and swirl the batter to form a thin pancake. (You should hear distinct sizzling if the pan is at the right temperature.)
  • Cook until cooked through. The edges should start to pull away from the side of the pan after 3 to 4 minutes. These pancakes are traditionally cooked in a generous amount of oil. But, I make these pancakes with a little oil.If you like a crispy pancake, add more oil around the edges of the pancake and fry it longer.
  • Scatter one-half of the pancake with an adequate amount of pork, prawn, bean sprouts, cooked mung beans, and chopped spring onions.
  • Gently slide a wide silicone spatula underneath and fold the crepe in half to cover the filling. Cook it for another 30 seconds. then transfer to a plate. Repeat with the remaining batter and filling, stirring the batter each time before ladling.
  • Bánh xèo are best eaten right away as each is ready. Wrap a piece of the pancake with the filling inside a lettuce leaf. Add lots of fresh herbs and sliced vegetables. Then dip the bundle into dipping sauce and enjoy!