Are you wondering what the difference is between banh cuon and banh uot? Look no further, I've delved down into the minute ingredient details so you can determine which dish you prefer!
Vietnamese cuisine among various regions may share the same name for dishes and share the same ingredients, but often there are just a few niche variations that make one region's dish different than the others.
What is the difference between banh cuon and banh uot?
While both are Vietnamese rice flour roll dishes, the difference is that banh cuon is usually made of minced grill pork as the main filling whereas banh uot is made of minced ground pork as a filling.
Ultimately, both share the similarities of using an opaque rice flour sheet to wrap it's delicious filling that comprises of rehydrated wood ear mushrooms, the pork protein, onions, garlic and sprinkled with fried shallots and garlic, and served on a bed of chopped lettuce, bean sprouts, sliced cucumber, and Vietnamese pork meat loaf.
What is banh cuon?
Banh cuon (pronounced baan quoon) is a Vietnamese dish that means a snack that is wrapped, but is often also referred to as rolled cakes. The name in itself refers to the steamed rice sheets. It is made of finely ground rice paper batter that is then steamed and cooked so that the wrapper is translucent and thin.
The Filling Inside Banh Cuon
Banh cuon is filled with a marinated grilled pork called thit nuong that is minced into small pieces. It is then usually mixed with wood ear mushrooms, onions which is then wrapped around the steamed rice flour batter into a translucent and opaque wrapper.
Thit nuong literally means grilled meat. In this case, the grilled meat is a pork that is then minced and added as a filler to banh cuon.
What is banh uot?
Banh uot (pronounced baan uot) is a Vietnamese cuisine that literally means wet snack, but is also referred to as a rice crepe or rice pancake. The dish is made with steamed rice sheets that are rolled and filled. It uses the same batter as banh cuon.
The Filling Inside Banh Uot
Banh uot is filled with ground pork that is mixed with chopped onions and wood ear mushrooms. It is wrapped around a rice flour batter that is translucent and opaque.
What are some other names for banh out and banh cuon?
If you have ever gone into a Vietnamese restaurant, you may find that banh out and banh cuon may be hidden on the recipe menu by other names. If you are wanting to devour some of these rice flour rolls, here are some other monikers you'll find them as:
- Banh Uot
- Banh Cuon
- Banh Uot Thanh Tri
- Ban Chuon Thanh Tri
- Rice Sheet Wraps
- Rice Noodle Roll
- Rice Flour Pancakes
- Rice Cakes with Filling
- Steamed Rice Noodles
- Vietnamese Rice Cakes
A rose by any other name is still a rose. And these are some delicious roses! Banh out and banh cuon pretty much are similar. Think of it like a pizza - do you want pepperoni or sausage?
What does banh cuon versus banh uot taste like?
Often in western conversation, it is often referred to as a Vietnamese ravioli or Vietnamese pancake. I disagree with this sentiment.
To me, it can be compared to eating an omelette made with a delicious outside batter that is soft and delicious.
What dipping sauce is used for banh cuon versus banh uot?
For both dishes, there are two main types of dressings that are shared across both cuisines: nuoc mam (Vietnamese fish sauce) and peanut butter dipping sauce (normally eaten with Vietnamese spring rolls).
Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Fish Sauce for Banh Uot and Banh Cuon
This is the most popular way to eat banh cuon and banh out is to drizzle it with nuoc mam, which is a Vietnamese sweet and sour fish sauce. It provides a refreshing contrast when eating these light and flavorful crepes.
Peanut Dipping Sauce for Banh Uot and Banh Cuon
Dark brown peanut dipping sauce is the less common way to dress banh uot and banh cuon. Vietnamese peanut sauce recipes are normally based with peanut butter and provide a delicious contrast when eating them with Vietnamese spring rolls.
How is banh uot and banh cuon normally served?
They are normally served with toppings like cucumbers, bean sprouts, julienned cucumbers, Vietnamese pork meat loaf (cha lua), and fried shallots.
What kind of banh cuon steamer set should I get?
If you are truly wanting to make banh cuon or banh uot at home and make it authentically, you can purchase this banh cuon steamer set which will definitely take your banh cuon and banh uot to the next level. In general, the wrapper for banh cuon and banh out is made by pouring the rice flour batter over a piece of cloth that has been stretched over a steamer. This allows that rice flour to steam into a paper thin batter that is the perfect texture to roll the filling around.
Can I make banh cuon without a steamer set?
Banh cuon and banh uot can definitely be made without a steamer set. Using a non-stick skillet that is brushed with oil, you can pour the batter in and cover it with a lid for 30 seconds before removing the rice flour sheet. Generally, you'll get thicker batter sheet versus using a steamer set.
I've listed out instructions on how to make banh uot here, which shows you the exact instructions on getting the perfect sheet using just a skillet.
What's the best way to eat banh cuon and banh uot?
Banh Uot and banh cuon need to be eated when the sheets are still hot! You should pile blanched muong bean sprouts along with crispy, fried shallots - this ingredient is the BEST to provide the crunchiness to this delicious dish. Finally, add chilled pork meat loaf (yes, I said chilled) because it makes the difference in texture that much more wonderful.
Summary
The differences between banh cuon and banh uot are minimal. Banh cuon and banh uot are generally the same Vietnamese dish with the differences in the type of filling. A thin sheet of steamed rice batter noodles rolled up with some amazing fillings dressed with your favorite sauce can make any day a treat! While pho is trending these days, banh uot and banh cuon are some amazing Vietnamese noodle delights that may surpass your ideas of truly the best Vietnamese noodle dish around.
Leave a Reply