Vietnamese Steamed Savory Rice Cake

Description

Bánh bèo is a popular Vietnamese steamed cake consisting of key ingredients such as rice flour, fish sauce with green chili peppers, and either shrimps or pork. Additionally, noodles, roasted peanuts, or fried onions can be added to the cake in order to improve its flavors. Apart from savory cakes, there are also sweet versions which are almost exclusively available in Hội An. Bánh bèo is traditionally served in a porcelain bowl with a bamboo spoon for consumption. Some people refer to it as the Vietnamese version of tapas , and it is believed that the most important characteristic of a good bánh bèo is an indentation in its center which is used for holding the flavorful, savory stuffings.