Looking for the best Vietnamese recipes? Want to make Vietnamese summer rolls or traditional pho? Try our ideas and twists here.
Vietnamese cuisine is packed full of punchy, vibrant flavours and fresh, healthy ingredients. Start with refreshing summer salads and fish sauce wings then move on to platters of pork meatballs and hearty chicken soup. Try Saigon-born Uyen Luu’s traditional recipes, passed down through her family, or modern ideas from Vietnamese restaurant Cây Tre in London.
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Easy Vietnamese recipes
Vietnamese chicken curry (cà ri gà bí)
A mild, slurpy curry, meant to be dipped into and mopped up with crispy Vietnamese baguettes or steamed rice. Make it as hot as you like!
Vietnamese recipe writer Uyen Luu says: “You can add different vegetables towards the end of cooking, depending on what’s in season. Even frozen peas, cooked for a couple of minutes at the end, are a delight. You can also use chicken breast. As with most Vietnamese food, make it as hot as you like and feel free to add fresh chilli or dried chilli flakes to the curry.”
Bánh xèo tôm Vietnamese pancakes
Bánh xèo is a light savoury crêpe, eaten with an abundance of salad leaves and herbs. This one comes stuffed with juicy king prawns.
Vietnamese recipe writer Uyen Luu says:”There’s a knack to eating these: gather a handful of leaves and herbs in your hand, break off some crêpe onto the leaves, then roll it up and dip it into the sauce. You can vary the filling.”
Vietnamese dumpling noodle bowl
Nisha Parmar’s dumpling noodle bowl is inspired by Vietnamese bun cha gio, a traditional pork noodle salad. This version is meat-free but contains fish sauce.
Vietnamese-style turmeric and dill fish with rice noodles
Sunshine yellow deliciousness with a hit of chilli and herbs, this Vietnamese fish dish is popular in Hanoi. Make your own version for dinner tonight.
Cây Tre’s beef and green papaya salad
Beef and green papaya is a classic combination in Vietnamese cuisine. Vietnamese restaurant Cây Tre uses traditional ingredients to create this fresh and vibrant beef and green papaya salad. Traditionally made with dried beef, this modern version uses rare steak.
Pad thai salad
A crunchier version of pad thai noodles, try Hetty McKinnon’s Vietnamese-style pad thai salad with shredded cabbage and a punchy chilli dressing for a speedy midweek dish.
Vietnamese-style chicken summer rolls
Fresh, vibrant and ready in 25 minutes, these summer rolls are a quick and healthy summer entertaining idea.
Bun cha with sizzling meatballs
Check out our easy Vietnamese-inspired dish with fiery pork meatballs. This low-calorie recipe is quick to make and packed with plenty of fresh flavour.
Spring veg rolls
Make a roll-it-yourself midweek dinner with Hetty McKinnon’s bright Vietnamese-style vegan rolls, packed full of fresh and herby flavours.
Chicken pho
Check out our super simple cheat’s chicken pho. This wholesome recipe is packed with rich, fragrant flavours, and it’s easy to make. Plus, it’s low in calories too.
Banh-mi
Banh-mi is a Vietnamese stuffed baguette – banh means bread and mi, wheat. This version is packed with delicious flavours and looks fantastic with so many colourful ingredients. It’s perfect for summer.
Vietnamese-style salmon with roasted cashew rice noodle salad
Check out this clever (and healthy) way to serve salmon. Flavoured with ginger, lime zest, red chilli and garlic, this zingy salad is inspired by Vietnamese cuisine.
Vietnamese-style carrot salad
A super-healthy carrot and white cabbage salad gets the Vietnamese treatment. The zingy lime, chilli and ginger dressing gives the crunchy veg a massive lift. Serve as a side with chicken or pack up for a low-fat lunch.
Beef pho
Quick, healthy and packed with flavour, beef pho is easier to make than you think. This fragrant noodle soup is eaten for breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner in Vietnam.
Bun cha
Bun cha is a typical salad in Vietnam. This is very easy to prepare as the sizzling pork is served with a make-ahead salad of cold noodles, herbs and beansprouts and a punchy dipping sauce.
Spiralized summer rolls
Spiralized veg takes the place of noodles in these super-healthy, Vietnamese-style vegan rolls. They’re great to pack for a posh picnic.
Vietnamese-inspired BBQ caramel pork loin
Try our glazed Vietnamese-style BBQ pork. This recipe is great for family BBQs; it’s delicately sweet, gluten-free and easily serves six. Alternatively, this recipe works just as well when roasted.
Vietnamese-spiced beef and lemongrass one pot
We love Vietnamese-inspired flavours, and this beef and lemongrass dish makes great use of them. It’s a one-pot, so there’s minimal washing up, and is under 300 calories but still packs a punch in terms of flavour.
