Cha Lua -Let's Try Vietnamese Ham

Cha Lua, or Vietnamese ham, is a staple of the Vietnamese diet and often found on the table during Tét--the celebration of the New Year. During a recent trip down to Little Saigon (on a bánh mi run), we randomly picked up a cha lua and brought it home to give it a try. It was pretty bland right out of the banana leaves, with a rubbery consistency--but these characteristics make it a pretty versatile ingredient in many dishes--much the same as tofu, but a meat version. I ended up slicing and marinating the ham in chili and soy sauce with curry and garlic powder and frying up the slices to make an awesome bánh mi burger--which was delicious; I will definitely be making again in the near future. Take a look at an exceptionally delicious Bánh Mì Hamburger I made using cha lua and ground beef. Take a look at a traditional Bánh Mì Sandwich.

Bánh Mì --A Vietnamese Sandwich

What is in a Bánh mì sandwich? Lets take one apart and see what we got.



Best Bánh mì  so far--thanks to eastsidegirl1977 for the great Seattle recommendation. I've been eating a lot of these sandwiches crammed with spicy, fresh ingredients--maybe too many sandwiches--but it's too great a taste and value to pass up.

Bánh mì are a fusion of French and Vietnamese culture. Spicy peppers and daikon mix with cooling carrot and cucumber to create a a real treat for your tongue, and a little BBQ pork added makes it irresistible; wrap it up in a crunchy French baguette and it's heaven.

Basic Bánh mì Ingredients:
Baguette
Sliced Pork
Pickled Daikon
Pickled Carrots
Cucumber
Cilantro
Hot Pepper
Mayonnaise
Black Pepper
Salt (if desired)

What is Bánh tét? Take a look at this Vietnamese rice cake.