Sample Vietnamese Cuisine

Updated August 20, 2008
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Often referred to as the lighter side of Asian cuisine, Vietnamese dishes include light soups, stir-fries, and noodle bowls featuring fresh ingredients and fragrant spices. Grab your chopsticks and enjoy these wonderful dishes, which are sure to delight at the dinner table.

Start Slideshow

1 of 16

Vietnamese-Style Pork Noodle Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower, Claire Spollen

Vietnamese-Style Pork Noodle Salad Recipe

Think of this refreshing salad as a deconstructed spring roll: cool rice noodles, crisp vegetables, and a sweet-and-spicy vinaigrette instead of a dipping sauce. Top it all off with savory stir-fried pork.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 16

Vietnamese Pork Salad

Credit: Erin Kunkel Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Vietnamese Pork Salad Recipe

Think of this impressive salad as a deconstructed version of a spring roll.

3 of 16

Hanoi-Style Salmon with Turmeric and Dill

Credit: Thomas J. Story Styling: Joni Noe

Hanoi-Style Salmon with Turmeric and Dill Recipe

This west coast spin on the traditional Vietnamese dish uses fresh salmon. You can use the salmon and sides to create noodle bowls and spring rolls.

Advertisement

4 of 16

Quick Chicken Pho

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Robyn Valarik

Quick Chicken Pho Recipe

For pho, the Vietnamese soup now found all over the West, a rich-tasting broth is crucial. But how do you produce one quickly? The answer: Simmer whole pieces of chicken in chicken broth. Leftover poached meat can be mixed with mayonnaise, chopped celery, and a pinch of curry powder for chicken salad.

5 of 16

Lemongrass Shrimp over Rice Vermicelli and Vegetables (Bun Tom Nuong Xa)

Credit: Randy Mayor; Jan Gautro

Lemongrass Shrimp over Rice Vermicelli and Vegetables (Bun Tom Nuong Xa) Recipe

The sauce in this dish, nuoc cham, is a staple in every Vietnamese meal. Drizzle it over meats, rice, or noodles. The raw ingredients make this dish ideal for summer dining, but enjoy it year round with shrimp, beef, chicken, or pork.

6 of 16

Nuoc Cham

Credit: Grey Dupree; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Nuoc Cham Recipe

Warning: This versatile Vietnamese condiment has addictive sweet, salty, sour, and spicy properties. Mix it in a jar, fine-tuning the flavors to your liking by adding more or less of any ingredient.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 16

Vietnamese Summer Rolls

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Vietnamese Summer Rolls Recipe

Make a no-cook dish that can work as an appetizer (1 roll) or main dish (2 rolls). Bean sprouts and threads, shredded carrots, and lettuce add a memorable crunch to the shrimp rolls. Don't forget the five-ingredient dipping sauce–it's the star of this recipe.

8 of 16

Vietnamese Beef-Noodle Bowl

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia DeGaris

Vietnamese Beef-Noodle Bowl Recipe

Prepare the meat the night before and let it marinate overnight, then cook and combine with cooked noodles and thinly sliced red chiles for a one-bowl dinner that's packed with the bright Asian flavors of sake, star anise, ginger, and fish sauce. Users raved that this recipe topped the dishes they get at traditional Vietnamese restaurants.

9 of 16

Vietnamese Calamari Herb Salad

Credit: Annabelle Breakey

Vietnamese Calamari Herb Salad Recipe

Pair seafood with lots of fresh herbs in traditional Vietnamese style. The bright, fresh flavor of parsley, cilantro, basil, and mint perfectly complement the rich, lightly-fried squid. Buy frozen, cleaned calamari to save time and get this dish on the table in about 30 minutes.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 16

Peppery Grilled Shrimp (Tom Nuong Toi Xa Ot)

Credit: Lisa Romerein

Peppery Grilled Shrimp (Tom Nuong Toi Xa Ot) Recipe

Marinate shrimp in a spicy mixture of lemon grass, garlic, red chili sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice before skewering and grilling for about three minutes on each side. Remember to soak the empty skewers in water before putting them on the grill to prevent burning. Take this recipe inside and cook on a grill pan or under a broiler, if you prefer.

11 of 16

Vietnamese Herb Salad

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Jeffrey Larsen

Vietnamese Herb Salad Recipe

Serve this herb- and veggie-filled Vietnamese-style salad with Turkey Meatballs.

12 of 16

Vietnamese-style Turkey Subs

Credit: Annabelle Breakey

Vietnamese-style Turkey Subs Recipe

Traditional Vietnamese sandwiches are spread with a thin layer of chicken-live pate, so feel free to spread a little on your baguette before topping with turkey, veggies, and chili paste, for a little heat. Serve for an inspired weekday lunch or light dinner.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 16

Vietnamese-Style Summer Rolls

Credit: Helen Dujardin; Styling: Mindi Shapiro-Levine

Vietnamese-Style Summer Rolls Recipe

These rolls are packed with great summer ingredients for you to enjoy all at once.

14 of 16

Vietnamese Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Lime Dipping Sauce

Credit: Scott Peterson

Vietnamese Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Lime Dipping Sauce Recipe

At your next cocktail party, serve a twist on the traditional spring roll by dishing up spicy lettuce wraps packed with plump shrimp, crispy cellophane noodles, and a spicy lime sauce, for dipping. You can find cellophane noodles in Asian grocery stores, or substitute rice if you prefer.

15 of 16

Sautéed Tofu (Dau Hu Xao Dau Hao)

Credit: Lisa Romerein

Sautéed Tofu (Dau Hu Xao Dau Hao) Recipe

Stir-fry tofu in a simple sauce of oyster sauce, sugar, fish sauce, and olive oil. Garnish with cilantro and a sprinkle of black pepper, and serve with rice of over noodle salad for a meatless one-bowl meal.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 16

Vietnamese Caramelized Pork and Rice Noodle Salad

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Vietnamese Caramelized Pork and Rice Noodle Salad Recipe

Bring the tastes of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter to the table all in one dish to get your taste buds dancing. A respectable dose of sugar balances the savory fish sauce, tart vinegar, and lime juice, and bitter fresh herbs. This fresh-tasting dish is sure to make your regular rotation.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next