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.

Bánh Tét -- Vietnamese Rice Cake

What is Bánh Tét?



Banh tet is a rice cake, and a staple dish served to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. It's a very popular dish in Vietnamese culture, and if you live near a Vietnamese market or deli, you'll probably be able to give it a try--and I recommend you do. It's pretty tasty, kind of addictive, and a bargain dish in the International District in Seattle. I've eaten several bánh tét since shooting this video, and I see many more in my future.

Making bánh tét often begins the day before Tét. The ingredients are prepared then cooked for at least six hours in a pot of boiling water. Glutinous rice, mung bean paste, and cooked pork fat are the main ingredients. The ingredients are layered on top of banana leaves and then wrapped tightly together with string. Bánh tét are generally wrapped several times with a string before boiling in a large pot of water to prevent the banana leaf from coming apart during cooking. The cake is savory, but sometimes sweetened, and tastes great with chili sauce.

What is a bánh mi sandwich? Click to see.