Cha Bo – Vietnamese Beef Kabobs Recipe

Ingredients

1 pound of minced beef

1 tablespoon of lemon grass (chopped)

2 teaspoon of red or green chili (finely chopped)

1.5 tablespoon of fish sauce

3 tablespoons of roasted peanuts (grounded)

2 tablespoons of onion or shallot (finely chopped)

1.5 tablespoons of coconut cream

1 teaspoon of curry powder

1 teaspoon of palm sugar

History and Culture of the Food of Viet Nam

Vietnamese food recipes are popular for use of soy sauce, fish sauce, fresh herbs, rice, vegetables and fruits. Vietnamese food recipes include a diverse range of natural herbs viz. mint, lemongrass, long coriander, basil leaves and Vietnamese mint. The Vietnamese cuisine lays emphasis on fresh vegetables or herbs essentially as side dishes accompanied with dipping sauce. Influenced by Buddhist ideologies the Vietnamese food recipes include a number of vegetarian dishes. Pork, chicken, cockles, chicken and seafood comprise the non-vegetarian cuisine of Vietnam. Beef is not very popular except for the famous Bo 7 Mon and phở. Goat and duck are also not very popular among the Vietnamese food recipes.

Categories of Vietnamese food recipes:

The Vietnamese food recipe is different in different regions. Since the Vietnamese civilization originated from northern Viet nam, the Vietnamese food recipes are highly influenced by the recipes that are used here and it gave birth to some of the most popular dishes of the authentic Vietnamese food recipes like phở (or Pho) and bánh cuốn. The cuisine here is very traditional and strict regarding the choice of spices and ingredients.

The food recipe of southern Vietnam is influenced by the immigrants of southern China and French colonists. The people here are fond of sweet flavors in various dishes. As a more diversified region, use of a variety of herbs in food recipes is also quite popular.

The food recipes of central Vietnam is different from that of other parts of Vietnam and the cuisines here are comparatively spicier than its other counterparts.

Exotic meats like soft-shell turtle, snake, domestic goat and deer are enjoyed exclusively throughout Vietnam whereas alcoholic beverages are not an everyday fare. Hột vịt lộn, a fertilized duck egg with an almost developed embryo is boiled and enjoyed eating in the shell. It is an important part of the Vietnamese food recipes and is served generally with fresh herbs.

The typical Vietnamese meal: – The meal for most of the Vietnamese family includes: -

• Individual bowls of rice

• Boiled, grilled, steamed and fried meat or fish or some seafood dish

• Stir-fried steamed or raw vegetable dish

• Vietnamese style soup

• Prepared soy sauce and fish sauce for dipping purpose.

Popularity of Vietnamese food recipes: – Outside Vietnam, the Vietnamese cuisine is very popular in countries like the United States, Australia, France and Canada which are strongly infiltrated with the Vietnamese communities. The Vietnamese food recipes are also quite popular and enjoyed in Korea, Japan, Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, Germany and places densely populated by the Asians. Dishes responsible for the popularity of Vietnamese food recipes are gỏi cuốn i.e. summer/spring rolls, phở, bánh mì i.e. bread rolls and bún.

A major reason that makes Vietnamese food recipes popular is the Vietnamese soup customs. Soup is served for breakfast which includes bowls full of steaming noodle with soup and ingredients like beans, sprouts; lime slices and basil are also added. Phó which means “your own bowl” is a popular restaurant in the U.S and has customers lined up at its doors wanting to feast on the Vietnamese soup. Sauce is spiced up with plenty of chilli-garlic sauce or fish sauce before it is served. You’ll also find in our collection here a great recipe for Vietnamese chicken on vermicelli.