Banh Xeo

Banh Xeo (WPLG, INC.)

Banh Xeo

Recipe from: https://cooking.nytimes.com

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For the batter:

1 cup stoneground white rice flour (about 140 grams), such as Bob’s Red Mill

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

1 ½ cups boiling water

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk

1 cup thinly sliced scallions

For the nuoc cham dipping sauce:

¼ cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)

3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce

1 tablespoon turbinado sugar

1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)

½ teaspoon minced fresh chiles, such as Thai, serrano or jalapeño, or red-pepper flakes

For the pancakes:

1 shallot, cut into thin strips (julienned)

½ pound medium peeled and deveined shrimp, halved lengthwise

kosher salt

2 cups bean sprouts (about 4 ounces)

¼ cup canola oil

For serving:

Lettuce leaves, such as green-leaf, red-leaf or butter lettuce

1 cup mixed herbs (mint, basil and cilantro leaves)

Make the batter: In a small bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, salt and turmeric. In another small bowl, combine boiling water with coconut milk, then slowly drizzle into dry mixture, whisking constantly until smooth. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.

Make the pancakes: Divide the shrimp into 4 equal portions and season with salt. Season bean sprouts separately with salt. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Add a single portion of shrimp and cook, stirring, until no longer raw, about 2 minutes. Spread shrimp in a single layer.

Whisk scallions into batter until well blended. The batter should be slightly thicker than heavy cream. Add a little water, if needed. Pour ½ cup batter into skillet, distributing over and around the filling. Tilt pan to coat the bottom of the skillet. (Pancakes should be 8 to 9-inches wide.) Fill in holes with more batter, if necessary. Scatter ½ cup bean sprouts over the pancake, cover skillet and cook until sprouts soften, about 2 minutes.

Uncover and cook over medium-low until pancake is golden and crispy underneath, about 3 minutes longer. Slide a spatula underneath the pancake and fold it in half to enclose the filling. Transfer pancake to a serving plate. Repeat with the remaining batter and fillings.

Serve pancakes with lettuce leaves, herbs and nuoc cham. Using scissors, cut pancakes into small pieces. Lay out a lettuce leaf and fill with a piece of pancake. Top with herbs, wrap and dip into nuoc cham.


About the Author:

Born and raised in Miami, of Jewish and Latinx descent, Chef Michelle “Michy” Bernstein is the host of Local10’s Emmy-Award winning SoFlo TASTE and a fixture in the culinary world.