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Vegan Banh Xeo — Traditional Vietnamese Crepe

Banh Xeo is one of Vietnam's most iconic street foods — a sizzling crispy crepe stuffed with savory fillings and wrapped in lettuce with fresh herbs. The name literally means "sizzling cake" because of the sound it makes when the batter hits the hot pan.

Ingredients — Crepe Batter:

1 cup rice flour

1/4 cup coconut milk

1 cup water

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp salt

2 scallions, thinly sliced

Ingredients — Filling:

1 cup mung bean sprouts

1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced

1 cup firm tofu, crumbled

1 shallot, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

For Serving:

Butter lettuce leaves

Fresh mint

Fresh cilantro

Thai basil

Sliced cucumber

Dipping sauce: 3 tbsp lime juice, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 chili sliced

Instructions:

Whisk together all batter ingredients and let rest 15 minutes

Sauté shallot and garlic in oil until fragrant. Add tofu and mushrooms, cook 5 minutes. Add soy sauce and sesame oil. Remove from pan

Heat a nonstick pan over high heat with a thin film of oil — it needs to be very hot

Pour in enough batter to coat the pan thinly, swirling quickly

Add a portion of filling to one half, then a handful of bean sprouts

Cover and cook 2-3 minutes until edges are crispy and golden

Fold in half and slide onto plate

Serve immediately with lettuce, herbs and dipping sauce — wrap pieces in lettuce to eat

The key is the heat — high and fast. The crepe should be paper thin and lacey-crispy at the edges.

Hungry for more plant-based inspiration? Head back to Vegan Good Eats for more creative vegan recipes straight from the kitchen.