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How to make banh chung cake at Tet At Ty 2025?
Banh chung is a traditional Vietnamese dish every Tet holiday. Let’s join Tiệc Ngon Hà Nội to learn how to make banh chung cake at Tet in the article below on this Lunar New Year 2025.
Mục lục
1. What is banh chung cake?
Chung cake, known as bánh chưng in Vietnamese, is a traditional Vietnamese sticky rice cake, commonly prepared and enjoyed during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. It is a significant cultural and culinary symbol in Vietnam, representing gratitude to ancestors and the harmony of heaven and earth.
Characteristics of Bánh Chưng:
Shape: Typically square, symbolizing the earth in ancient Vietnamese cosmology.
Key Ingredients:
Glutinous rice: Chosen for its stickiness and fragrance.
Mung beans: Peeled and cooked into a smooth filling.
Pork: Usually belly pork for a balance of fat and lean meat, seasoned with salt and pepper.
Dong leaves: Large green leaves used to wrap the cake, imparting a natural green color and aroma.
Preparation:
Glutinous rice is soaked and rinsed.
Mung beans are boiled and mashed.
Pork is cut into pieces and marinated with spices.
Ingredients are layered and wrapped tightly in dong leaves, then tied with bamboo strings.
The cakes are boiled for 8–12 hours, resulting in a dense, flavorful dish.
Cultural Significance:
Bánh chưng is deeply rooted in Vietnamese traditions and is linked to the story of Prince Lang Liêu during the reign of the sixth Hùng King. According to legend, bánh chưng represents the earth, while bánh dày (a round sticky rice cake) represents the sky. Together, they embody gratitude and the balance of the universe.
This cake is not just a dish but a way to honor heritage, family, and the importance of nature’s bounty.
2. How to make banh chung cake at Tet?
Ingredients (for 5–6 cakes):
Glutinous rice: 2.5 kg (about 5.5 lbs)
Mung beans (peeled): 1 kg (about 2.2 lbs)
Pork belly: 1 kg (about 2.2 lbs)
Dong leaves (or banana leaves as a substitute): About 50 large leaves
Bamboo strings or kitchen twine: For tying
Salt: For seasoning
Pepper: For seasoning pork
Preparation:
1. Prepare Ingredients:
Glutinous rice: Rinse thoroughly, soak in water overnight, and drain. Add a pinch of salt to the rice before use.
Mung beans: Soak in water for at least 4–6 hours, then rinse and cook until soft. Mash or grind into a smooth paste.
Pork belly: Cut into thick slices. Marinate with salt, pepper, and optionally a bit of minced garlic.
2. Prepare Dong Leaves:
Wash the leaves thoroughly and wipe them dry.
Trim the stems and edges to make them uniform in size. Some larger leaves may need to be split if they are too wide.
3. Prepare Bamboo Strings:
Soak bamboo strings in water to make them pliable. If unavailable, use kitchen twine.
Assembly:
Layer the leaves:
Use 2–3 dong leaves per cake, laying them flat with the shiny side facing down. Arrange them in a cross shape (one set horizontal, the other vertical).
Add rice:
Spread 1–2 cups of glutinous rice in the center of the leaves.
Add mung bean paste:
Place a layer of mashed mung beans on top of the rice.
Add pork belly:
Lay a piece or two of marinated pork belly in the center.
Repeat mung beans and rice:
Add another layer of mung beans, followed by a final layer of glutinous rice.
Wrap the cake:
Fold the leaves tightly around the filling to form a square or rectangular block. Secure the cake with bamboo strings or twine, ensuring it’s tightly bound.
Cooking:
Place the wrapped cakes in a large pot, ensuring they are tightly packed to prevent unwrapping.
Fill the pot with water, covering the cakes completely.
Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat to maintain a gentle boil.
Cook for 8–12 hours, adding hot water as needed to keep the cakes submerged.
Finishing:
Remove the cakes from the pot and let them cool completely.
Place the cakes under a heavy weight to press out excess water, which helps them firm up.
Once cooled, cut into slices and serve.
Tips:
Dong leaves give the cake its signature green color and earthy aroma. If unavailable, banana leaves can be used, but the flavor will differ slightly.
Bánh chưng can be stored at room temperature for 1–2 days, in the refrigerator for about a week, or frozen for longer storage.
Traditionally, making bánh chưng is a family activity, often accompanied by storytelling and celebrations.
3. Other Tet activities in Vietnam
First footing (xông đất): The first visitor to a household on the first day of Tết is considered to bring good or bad luck for the year. Families often carefully choose someone lucky, successful, or well-liked for this role.
Wearing new clothes: People wear new, often red or bright-colored, clothes to signify a fresh start and good fortune.
Giving red envelopes (lì xì): Elders give children and younger family members red envelopes containing money as blessings for health, success, and happiness.
Family visits: Families visit relatives and close friends, starting with the paternal side, followed by the maternal side.
Temple visits: Many people visit temples or pagodas to pray for blessings and good fortune in the new year.
Lion dances and performances: Traditional lion and dragon dances are performed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.
Spring festivals: Various cultural and folk activities like traditional games, calligraphy markets, and art performances are organized during Tết.
Flower markets: Cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are famous for their vibrant Tết flower markets, where people buy peach blossoms, kumquat trees, and other festive plants.
See more: Top 10 mẫu thư mời dự tiệc tân niên khai xuân đầu năm Ất Tỵ 2025
Above, Tiệc Ngon Hà Nội has introduced how to make Tet banh chung. Comment your opinion below!
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