Method
- Whisk rice flour, cornstarch, turmeric and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in coconut milk and water gradually until lump-free. The batter should be very thin — like single cream. Stir in spring onion. Rest 30 minutes.
- Heat a non-stick pan, ideally 25cm, over medium-high until very hot. Add 2 tbsp oil and swirl. Add a spoonful of yellow onion and a few slices of pork belly; stir-fry 90 seconds until pork is just cooked. Add 4 prawns; cook another 60 seconds.
- Stir the batter (it settles). Pour a thin ladle into the pan, tilting immediately so the batter coats the entire bottom in a thin layer — the trademark thinness is essential.
- Add a small handful of bean sprouts to one half of the crepe. Cover with a lid for 60 seconds — this steams the sprouts and continues cooking the batter from above.
- Uncover. Drizzle another tablespoon of oil around the edges of the crepe — this is what gives the lacy crispy border. Cook another 90 seconds until the bottom is golden-brown and crackling.
- Slide the spatula under one half and fold over to make a half-moon. Slide onto a plate. Diners tear off pieces, wrap them in lettuce with mint and basil, and dip in nuoc cham. Eat with hands; serve them as fast as the cook can make them.
Common questions
Can Banh Xeo be made ahead?
Banh Xeo is best made and eaten the same day, but the components can be prepped earlier — chop and measure the ingredients up to a day ahead, refrigerated separately. Final cooking takes about 40 minutes.
Is Banh Xeo spicy?
Banh Xeo as written is mild to mildly warming — the heat comes from aromatics rather than chili. Add fresh sliced chili or chili oil at the end if you'd like to push it spicier.
Is Banh Xeo vegetarian or gluten-free?
This recipe is suitable for most diets. If you have specific restrictions, the substitutions section in each ingredient note covers the most common swaps.
How hard is Banh Xeo to make at home?
Banh Xeo sits at intermediate difficulty — total time about 70 minutes. The ingredients are not unusual but the timing requires attention.
Can Banh Xeo be scaled up or down?
This recipe is written for 4 servings. To scale, multiply each ingredient proportionally; the cooking times stay the same up to about double the volume. Beyond that, expect to cook in batches because of pan size and heat distribution.
Cultural Note
Banh xeo means 'sizzling cake' for the sound the batter makes hitting hot oil. The southern (Saigon) version uses coconut milk and is large and shareable; the central (Da Nang) version is tiny and crispier. The dish travelled from south to north only recently. The lettuce-wrapping is core to the dish — eating banh xeo with knife and fork is a category error. The herb plate is regional: Saigon adds perilla, Hue adds fish-mint (rau ram).
