Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crêpes)

Bánh xèo (bahn SAY-oh) is a popular street snack in Vietnam. The name means "sizzling pancakes or crêpes" and refers to the sound the batter makes when it hits the hot skillet. Serve these shrimp-studded crêpes with lettuce, fresh mint and basil, and nuoc cham dipping sauce.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 788 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup water
• salt to taste
• 1 cup coconut milk
• ½ teaspoon white sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ¾ pound fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons minced shallot
• 2 cloves garlic, minced, or more to taste
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided, or as needed
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce, or more to taste
• 1 cup rice flour
• 1 pound mung bean sprouts
• 4 lettuce leaves, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C).

Step 2

Make the crêpe batter: Mix rice flour, sugar, salt, and turmeric together in a large bowl. Beat in coconut milk until thick. Slowly beat in water until it reaches the consistency of a thin crêpe batter.

Step 3

Make the filling: Heat 1 1/2 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallot and garlic; cook and stir until fragrant but not browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add shrimp; sauté until cooked through and opaque, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with fish sauce and salt. Transfer filling to a bowl.

Step 4

Wipe out the skillet and reheat over medium heat. Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil. Stir crêpe batter and pour 1/2 cup into the hot skillet, swirling to coat the bottom. Lay 3 or 4 cooked shrimp on the bottom half of the crêpe. Top with a small handful of bean sprouts. Cook until batter looks set and edges start to brown, about 1 minute. Fold crêpe over and slide onto an oven-safe plate.

Step 5

Place crêpe in the preheated oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter, shrimp, and bean sprouts

Step 6

Serve crêpes with lettuce leaves. Break off pieces of crêpe and roll them up in lettuce to eat.