How to make delicious and simple steamed rice cakes at home without banana leaves

How to make Bánh nậm without banana leaves

• 1

  Prepare shrimp and meat

  To remove the fishy smell of shrimp, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 300ml of water, soak the shrimp for about 5 – 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly 2 – 3 times with water. Then, take the shrimp out and let it drain.

  After the shrimp has been cleaned, peel off the head and shell, then gently cut along the back of the shrimp with a knife and slowly pull out the black vein to remove it, then chop into small cubes.

  How to clean shrimp without the fishy smell:

  • Method 1: Sprinkle cornstarch on the shrimp. Cornstarch will help eliminate the fishy smell and absorb any dirt still clinging to the shrimp, then rinse the shrimp clean.
  • Method 2: Soak the shrimp in diluted saltwater or a little white wine, gently squeeze with your hands to clean the shrimp. Then rinse thoroughly with water to prepare for cooking.

  Pork should be soaked in diluted saltwater for 3 minutes. Then rinse with clean water and let it drain. After the meat has drained, chop it into small cubes.

  Effective ways to remove the smell of pork:

  • Method 1: Rinse the pork briefly, to remove the smell, rub the meat with salt or lemon juice for about 3 – 5 minutes, then rinse with clean water and chop it into small pieces to prepare for cooking.
  • Method 2: You can also blanch the meat briefly in boiling water for about 3 minutes, then take it out, rinse with water and chop it into small pieces.
  • Method 3: To eliminate the smell of meat, you can use a little vinegar to wash the meat, then rinse several times with water before cooking.

  See details: Effective ways to remove the smell of pork

  

  
• 2

  Prepare other ingredients

  Remove the stems from the chili peppers, wash them thoroughly, and then chop them finely.

  Trim the green onions by removing the yellowed leaves and roots, wash them, then chop them finely, keeping the green tops and white parts separate.

  To make the onion oil, heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil until boiling, then pour it into a bowl with the green onion tops.

  

  
• 3

  Mix the batter

  Add 400g of rice flour, 30g of tapioca flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and the juice of 1/2 lemon into a bowl.

  Mix well and let it sit for about 10 minutes for the flour to settle, then pour out the clear water and add back the same amount of water that was removed, and mix thoroughly.

  Tip: Pouring out the clear water while the flour settles helps prevent the batter from smelling and makes the final product more fragrant and chewy.

  

  

  

  
• 4

  Sauté the filling

  Place a pan on the stove over medium heat, when the pan is hot, add 1 tablespoon of annatto oil and then add the chopped green onions to sauté until fragrant.

  When the onions are fragrant, add the meat and shrimp and stir-fry for about 2 minutes, then season with 1 tablespoon of seasoning and turn off the heat to transfer to a bowl.

  

  

  

  
• 5

  Blend the filling

  Add the filling to the blender and blend until smooth.

  

  
• 6

  Place the cake in the mold and steam the cake

  You mix the cake batter well and pour it into the mold, adding 1 tablespoon of filling.

  Next, you place the steamer pot on the stove, add 1 liter of water and bring it to a boil over medium heat, arrange the cake mold in the steamer, cover it, and steam for 10 minutes until the cake is cooked.

  

  

  

  
• 7

  Make dipping sauce

  You put 4 tablespoons of fish sauce, 4 tablespoons of sugar, and 8 tablespoons of filtered water into a bowl.

  You squeeze the juice of 1/2 lime into the fish sauce bowl, add chopped chili. Then you stir until the ingredients dissolve and adjust the seasoning to taste to finish.

  

  
• 8

  Finished product

  The steamed rice cake does not need banana leaves. After being steamed, arrange the cakes on a plate and drizzle scallion oil on top. Then, pour just enough fish sauce according to your taste and enjoy.

  The cake is very attractive and appealing, with a chewy texture that blends well with the savory flavor of the meat and shrimp filling, the fatty scallion oil, and the delicious sweet and sour fish sauce.

  Show off your cooking skills and treat your family!