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Finished Result of the Vietnamese Pancakes
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Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Pancakes)

Crispy turmeric rice-flour pancakes made with coconut cream batter, filled with shrimp, ground pork, beansprouts and onion.
Servings: 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 230 g rice flour
  • 90 g corn starch or tapioca starch
  • 250 ml coconut cream
  • 800 ml water
  • 1 tsp salt for batter
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • 2 tsp fish sauce
  • 3 sprigs green onion cut in 1cm slices, for batter
  • 6 tbsp neutral oil for cooking
  • 500 g shrimp deveined and cut in 1cm slices
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • 500 g beansprouts
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 3 sprigs green onion cut in 3 cm slices, for filling
  • 300 g ground pork
  • salt and pepper to season the filling

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, whisk the corn starch and rice flour together. In a tall flask, combine the coconut cream and water. Slowly pour it into the dry mix, whisking continuously.
  2. Whisk in the salt, turmeric, fish sauce and 1cm green onion slices. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and rest in the fridge at least 20 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, heat a cast iron pan over medium heat. When hot, drizzle in a bit of oil to coat the pan. Add the garlic and fry until fragrant, 20 seconds.
  4. Add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, about 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp and drizzle some more oil into the pan.
  5. Add the minced pork, season with salt and pepper, and fry, stirring, on high heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pork and quickly rinse the pan.
  6. Return the pan to the stove and heat it up completely. Add 1 tablespoon oil. Take the batter from the fridge and whisk it quickly to mix in the sediment.
  7. Add one ladle of batter and tilt to coat the pan fully. Add a large spoonful of shrimp, one spoonful of pork, a handful of beansprouts and ½ spoonful of sliced onion.
  8. When the batter starts to crisp and release from the pan edge, sprinkle in some of the 3cm green onion slices.
  9. Fold one edge of the pancake to the middle, then fold the other edge in. Carefully lift the pancake onto a plate and serve.

Notes

Wait until the pancake is crispy and releases at the sides before folding; it is easier to fold and lift. Optional toppings: cilantro, perilla leaves and mint alongside the green onions.
Total time: 1 hour 20 mins.