Go Back
–+ servings
Banh Bot Chien

Bánh Bột Chiên Recipe (Vietnamese Fried Rice Cakes)

Bánh bột chiên is a snack dish in Vietnam, made by frying pieces of cooked rice flour cake until they are crunchy. The dish is served with many accompaniments and a savory sauce.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Course: Main Course, Non-course Dish
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: Bánh Bột Chiên, Vietnamese Fried Rice Cakes
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Dietary Preference: Dairy-Free
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 292kcal

Equipment

  • Steamer
  • Skillet
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Saucepan
  • Ladle
  • Mold
  • Spatula
  • Knife
  • Plate Lifter

Ingredients

For the rice flour cakes:

  • 8.8 ounces rice flour
  • 2.11 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Cooking oil

For the accompaniments:

  • Shredded green papaya
  • 2 eggs
  • Chopped green onions

For the dipping sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
US Customary - Metric

Instructions 

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine rice flour, water, cornstarch, sugar, and salt. Mix well.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 1 Prepare the Batter
  • Let the batter rest for about 30 minutes.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 1 Prepare the Batter1
  • Then, place a pot on the stove over medium heat and stir the mixture continuously in one direction.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 1 Prepare the Batter2
  • After about 10 minutes, when the batter starts to thicken, add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 1 Prepare the Batter3
  • Add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 1 Prepare the Batter4
  • Continue stirring until the batter mixture thickens further and becomes heavy to stir, then remove the pot from the heat.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 1 Prepare the Batter5
  • Lightly oil a mold to prevent sticking, and pour the batter into the mold.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 2 Steam the Rice Flour Cake
  • Place the mold in a steamer and steam for about 30 minutes. Check if the batter is cooked by poking a chopstick into it; if the chopstick comes out clean without any white batter sticking to it, the batter is cooked.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 2 Steam the Rice Flour Cake2
  • Once cooked, remove the batter from the steamer and let it cool.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 2 Steam the Rice Flour Cake4
  • In a saucepot, combine water, sugar, soy sauce, and vinegar. Heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves and let it boil for about 1 minute, then turn off the heat.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 3 Make the Dipping Sauce
  • Once the batter is completely cooled, cut it into bite-sized pieces.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 4 Fry the Rice Flour Cakes
  • Heat a pan on the stove, add about 5 tablespoons of cooking oil, and wait until the oil is hot before adding the batter pieces to fry.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 4 Fry the Rice Flour Cakes2
  • Fry over medium heat for about 5 minutes until one side is golden brown, then flip and fry for another 3 minutes.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 4 Fry the Rice Flour Cakes3
  • Then, remove some of the oil from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Add eggs and fry for about 2 minutes until the eggs are cooked, then sprinkle some chopped green onions on top to finish.
    Banh Bot Chien Step 4 Fry the Rice Flour Cakes4
  • Serve the dish with some shredded green papaya, and drizzle sweet and sour dipping sauce over it to serve.
    Banh Bot Chien4

Video

Notes

  • You can swap cornstarch for glutinous rice flour for more chewiness to the rice flour cake.
  • The batter dictates the flavor of bánh bột chiên; thus, you need to pay attention to the process of incorporating water and flour to make sure it’s at the right consistency.
  • After shredding papaya, soak them in a diluted vinegar solution to keep them white.
  • You can mix the rice flour cake with a bit of soy sauce for a more vibrant color when fried.

Nutrition

Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 1373mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg