Banh tet is an indispensable traditional dish for Vietnamese people during Tet, especially popular in the southern provinces. With a layer of fragrant sticky rice, green bean filling and fatty meat, banh tet is not only a delicious dish but also carries a profound meaning of fullness, happiness and luck in the new year. Every time spring comes, the flavor of Banh Tet reminds us of the warm, togetherness atmosphere of family meals during traditional Tet.
Main Ingredients of Banh Tet
Banh Tet is made from familiar and simple ingredients but full of nutrition and rich flavor.
Fragrant Sticky Rice
Sticky rice is the main ingredient that makes the fragrant, flexible crust of banh tet. Sticky rice must be selected from good rice, then soaked overnight so that when cooked, the cake retains its elasticity, aroma and flavor, creating a unique delicious taste for the dish.
Filled with Green Beans and Fatty Meat
The filling for traditional banh tet includes rich green beans and fatty meat. Green beans are cooked and pounded, combined with a moderately fatty piece of meat so that when eaten, the cake is greasy but not too fatty, creating a perfect balance between flavors.
Banana Leaves – Shape the Cake
Banh tet is tightly wrapped in green banana leaves, helping to maintain the shape and flavor of the cake after cooking. Banana leaves not only help the cake retain moisture but also create a unique aroma when the cake is boiled.
How to Make Traditional Banh Tet
Making Banh Tet requires meticulousness and patience in each step. Below are instructions for you to make your own traditional banh tet for Tet.
Ingredients Need to Prepare
- Sticky rice: 1kg
- Shelled green beans: 300g
- Pork belly: 300g
- Banana leaves: 10-12 leaves
- Tie rope
- Salt, pepper
Implementation Steps
Step 1: Prepare sticky rice and green beans
Wash sticky rice and soak in water overnight. Green beans are also soaked in water for about 2-3 hours, then cooked and pounded. Cut pork belly into long pieces, marinate with salt and pepper for flavor.
Step 2: Wrap the cake
Spread out the banana leaves and place an even layer of sticky rice on top. Next is a layer of green beans and pork belly in the middle, then covered with a layer of sticky rice. Roll up the banana leaf and tie it tightly with string, forming a long cylinder.
Step 3: Cook the cake
After being wrapped, banh tet is cooked in a large pot of water, continuously for about 8-10 hours until the banh tet is cooked evenly and fragrant. During the cooking process, regularly add boiling water to keep the cake submerged.
Step 4: Complete and enjoy
After the cake is cooked, take it out and drain. Banh Tet can be eaten with pickled onions, pickled onions, or dipped in fish sauce, creating a rich, unforgettable flavor.
Banh Tet – Typical Flavors of Tet
Banh Tet is not only a dish but also a symbol of fullness and prosperity during Tet. Neatly wrapped, hand-cut banh tets show the skill of the maker, and when offered on the feast, banh tet also carries the meaning of praying for a full and prosperous new year. The flavor of banh tet with a sticky layer of sticky rice, fleshy meat and green beans, and the faint aroma of banana leaves has become an indispensable characteristic flavor of Vietnamese Tet.
Banh tet
Banh Tet on Tet is not only a traditional dish but also a beauty of Vietnamese culinary culture. With meticulous preparation and the unique flavors of sticky rice, green beans and fatty meat, banh tet brings warmth and familiarity to every family reunion meal. Try making banh tet at home to fully feel the typical flavor of spring and preserve the traditional cultural beauty of the nation.
