Trứng chiên (Vietnamese egg omelet) has been an iconic Vietnamese dish for generations, and it’s not hard to see why. Simple yet incredibly delicious, this treat makes for a perfect breakfast or side dish for your daily meal.
In this post, let’s delve into the beauty of this classic Vietnamese delicacy and learn not one but two recipes to make it at home. The first one results in a no-meat dish, ideal for my vegetarian readers, while the second one will be more filling with the addition of ground pork.
Special Things That Make Trứng Chiên Different
The omelet is probably one of the most common breakfasts in the world, as everyone seems to know how to make this dish. However, several aspects make the Vietnamese version (trứng chiên) different from your typical omelet.
First of all, trứng chiên is seasoned with popular Vietnamese fresh herbs and spices, such as cilantro, scallions, and fish sauce. These ingredients give the eggs a unique savory flavor that makes them stand out from the more common salt and pepper seasoning of the Western variety.
When it comes to texture, Vietnamese omelets are usually light and fluffy, as the locals don’t often mix milk or cream with the eggs. In addition, the Vietnamese rarely (or never) include cheese in the fillings. Instead, they use a combination of meat, glass noodles, and mushrooms.
Your Kitchen Must-Haves for Perfect Trứng Chiên
Having the correct tools is the first step in making any recipe. The good news is that you won’t need any fancy equipment to cook a Vietnamese-style omelet.
Beyond the Egg: The Essential Ingredients for Trứng Chiên
Next on the to-do list is gathering the right ingredients. Here is what you will need.
For meatless omelet
For omelet with ground pork
Simple Steps For a Tasty Trứng Chiên
When you’ve got all the tools and ingredients, there’s nothing left to do but cook up some tasty Vietnamese egg omelets! Here are the detailed recipes you’ve been waiting for.
Prepare The Ingredients
Rinse the wood ear mushrooms.
Cut the glass noodles into 2 to 3-inch strips. Then, soak them in clean water for 10 to 15 minutes to soften them. Once done, drain the noodles and let them dry.
Next, mince the scallions and cilantro. Thinly slice the mushrooms and shallots.
Option 1: Meatless Omelet
After preparing the mushrooms and vegetables, you now have two choices to cook the omelets. The first one is the meatless version.
Step 1: Beat The Eggs
Crack 4 eggs into a bowl and add the scallions and cilantro. Season them with fish sauce, pepper, and brown sugar. Beat the eggs using a fork or spoon. You can also use a pair of chopsticks to beat the eggs if you want to go Asian style.
Then, add the mushrooms and glass noodles to the egg mixture. Mix well.
Step 2: Fry The Eggs
Heat olive oil in a pan. Once the oil is heated, add the shallots and fry them until fragrant. Next, pour in the eggs.
Use a kitchen turner or spoon to spread the filling (mushrooms, glass noodles, etc.) evenly on the surface.
Gently lift and tilt the pan in a circular motion so that the eggs fill all the empty space. This step will also prevent the omelet from sticking to the pan.
Fry the eggs for 3 to 5 minutes over medium-low heat until they firm up. Occasionally lift and tilt the pan as instructed above to keep the omelet from burning.
Slightly tilt the pan and slide the kitchen turner under the eggs. Lift the pan upward and quickly flip the omelet over.
Cook your omelet for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove it from the heat.
Option 2: Omelet With Ground Pork
If you want the omelets to fill your stomach more, opt for the second option, which includes ground pork. The cooking steps are quite similar to the no-meat version, but you’ll need to spend a little more time in the kitchen.
Step 1: Beat The Eggs
Similarly, crack 4 eggs and season them with the minced scallions and cilantro. Beat the eggs well.
Step 2: Stir-Fry The Pork
Heat olive oil in a pan. Next, add the onion and stir it until fragrant. Then, stir in the ground pork and season it with sugar, pepper, and fish sauce. Stir-fry the meat for 3 to 4 minutes.
Step 3: Add The Cooked Pork To The Eggs
Add the pork to the eggs and mix well. Then, add the mushrooms and glass noodles. Give everything a good mix.
Step 4: Fry The Eggs
Fry the eggs as instructed above. However, the cooking time will be slightly different. First, fry them for about 4 to 6 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
Present The Dish
Transfer the omelet onto a plate and sprinkle some scallions, herbs, and pepper on top. Slice it up like you slice a pizza and enjoy it with hot steamed rice.
Tips
Making Trứng Chiên can be a bit different from when you cook an American-style omelet due to the changes in ingredients. Don’t worry! These tips and tricks will help you prevent all the common mistakes.
Never A Boring Breakfast With Trứng Chiên
With the addition of spices and herbs, trứng chiên is always packed with flavor. If you need a more filling option, include ground pork to turn your breakfast into a full meal. And for vegetarians, simply omit the meat and use vegan fish sauce.
If you’ve grown tired of the same omelet, give this Vietnamese classic a go today! After trying the dish, don’t forget to leave your feedback in the comment section. Besides, please like and share the recipe so that other people know about it as well. Thank you very much!
Trứng Chiên Recipe (Vietnamese Egg Omelet)
Equipment
- Non-stick frying pan
- Kitchen turner
- Wooden Spoon
- Fork Optional
- Knife Optional
- Chopping Board Optional
Ingredients
For meatless omelet
- 4 eggs
- 0.35 ounces wood ear mushrooms
- 0.5 ounces glass noodles
- 0.8 ounces cilantro
- 0.8 ounces scallions
- 0.8 ounces shallots
For omelet with ground pork
- 4 eggs
- 3.5 ounces ground pork
- 0.35 ounces wood ear mushrooms
- 0.5 ounces glass noodles
- 0.35 ounces cilantro
- 0.35 ounces scallions
- 0.5 onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Rinse the wood ear mushrooms. Cut the glass noodles into 2 to 3-inch strips. Then, soak them in clean water for 10 to 15 minutes to soften them. Once done, drain the noodles and let them dry.
- Next, mince the scallions and cilantro. Thinly slice the mushrooms and shallots.
- For Meatless Omelet:Crack 4 eggs into a bowl and add the scallions and cilantro. Season them with fish sauce, pepper, and brown sugar. Beat the eggs using a fork or spoon.
- Add the mushrooms and glass noodles to the egg mixture. Mix well.
- Heat olive oil in a pan. Once the oil is heated, add the shallots and fry them until fragrant. Pour in the eggs.
- Using a kitchen turner or spoon to spread the filling evenly on the surface. Gently lift and tilt the pan in a circular motion so that the eggs fill all the empty space.
- Fry the eggs for 3 to 5 minutes over medium-low heat until they firm up. Occasionally lift and tilt the pan as instructed above to keep the omelet from burning.
- Slightly tilt the pan and slide the kitchen turner under the eggs. Lift the pan upward and quickly flip the omelet over.
- Cook your omelet for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove it from the heat.
- For Omelet With Ground Pork:Similarly, crack 4 eggs and season them with minced scallions and cilantro. Beat the eggs well.
- Stir in the ground pork and season it with sugar, pepper, and fish sauce. Heat olive oil in a pan and add the onion and stir it until fragrant. Stir-fry the meat for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the pork to the eggs and mix well. Add the mushrooms and glass noodles. Give everything a good mix.
- First, fry them for about 4 to 6 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
- Transfer the omelet onto a plate and sprinkle some scallions, herbs, and pepper on top. Slice it up like you slice a pizza and enjoy it with hot steamed rice.
Video
Notes
- The cooking time is estimated based on 3 servings of omelets.
- The nutritional table is for the version with ground pork. If you cook your omelets without meat, the total calorie count is about 136 per serving.
- Covering the pan while frying the eggs can shorten the cooking time and avoid burning.
- Do not add raw ground pork to the eggs. Since eggs cook faster than meat, your omelet will be burnt by the time the pork is cooked. Plus, stir-frying the pork beforehand will enhance its flavor.
- As tempting as it is, you shouldn’t use too much ground pork, as doing so might cause your omelet to be too thick and take longer to cook.
- Make sure that the eggs’ surface has firmed up before flipping them over.
- Vietnamese egg omelet tastes delicious when added to salads or bò bía (spring rolls). You can also use it as a filling for bánh mì or sandwiches.
Richie
Content Writer
Expertise
Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Beverage Evaluation Expert
Education
Saigon Culinary Arts Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam Australia Vocational School (VAAC), Hanoi, Vietnam
Richie, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a dynamic Content Writer with a talent for capturing the essence of culinary art.
Richie specializes in creating visually appealing and tasty content, offering a new angle on Vietnamese and other culinary traditions. With a background in graphic design and a love for food styling and photography, he expertly combines beauty with food narratives, encouraging his audience to discover the culinary world through his imaginative perspective.