Sandwich Shop Goodies 6 – bánh dừa (coconut sticky rice stick)
If anything can be called the Vietnamese granola bar, it’s bánh dừa.
Coconut bánh. The simple name lends room for innocent confusions with the French Coco au Miel, the Malaysian kuih binka gandum, the coconut cookies, and a whole flock of other Vietnamese coconut treats also known as bánh dừa (with some additives like “grilled”, “honeyed”, or “lemon”). People of the deep south don’t get too fancy with names: when the bánh has coconut milk mixed with sticky rice and is wrapped in coconut leaves, it has every right to be call a coconut bánh. Besides, children identify it by the unique look.
A stiff, almost cylindrical case, as long as a palm and almost two fingers wide, is made from wrapping one single young coconut leaf around hours of training, to protect the glutinous rice and bean paste core for days in the tropics’ heat. The one I bought stays good for two weeks in the fridge, unwrapped.
Such longevity expectedly costs a good deal of skill and time. Wax sticky rice, a special cultivar in Vĩnh Long known for its gumminess and fragrance, is soaked in water at midnight. The banh makers wake up at 4am to wash the sticky rice as carefully as six to seven times to get rid of bran and dirt, the first step to delay spoilage. Washed sticky rice is then air dried, while the banh makers squeeze coconut milk out of grated coconut and wrap up the leafy tubes, which could turn an ugly wilting purple unless put in the shade. Dried sticky rice is mixed with coconut milk, salt and sugar, sometimes black beans, into a gooey mess to be portioned into the tubes. The first one third of the tube is sticky rice, then comes mung bean paste or half a ripe banana, and more sticky rice to fill up the tube. I will forever be puzzled by how to make the sweet filling perfectly in the middle of the sticky rice layer. There is also no clear instruction on how to tie up the banh with a string, but rest assured that there are many ways to get it wrong. If the string is too tight, sticky rice can’t rise and your bánh dừa is one dry stick. If the string is too loose, water vapor seeps in while steaming, your bánh dừa becomes half-porridge and spoils fast.
By 7am all wrapping is done, banh makers throw their sticks, now strung together in small bundles, into the boiling steamer for a solid 5 hours. The steam water is often mixed with alum to keep the case’s healthy yellow color, but too much alum can make the banh turn sour. At noon, fresh bánh dừa is ready for the markets.
Holding the light and compact banh in hand, I picture country kids of the Mekong Delta stick these coconut sticky rice sticks in their pockets and school bags for an early morning in the rice paddies, an afterlunch snack, a quick filler while running around with the kites. The coconut leaf unwraps swiftly with no effort, reveal a firm and chewy, fatty and nutty, salty and earthy treat that requires no reheating or refrigerating. Some may see it as merely a miniature bánh tét, but the coconut leaf gives bánh dừa its signature fragrance and a deserving separation from the banana leaf wrappers.
Bánh dừa is cheap. Ten years ago the Southern Vietnamese villagers sold them for 500VND a stick. Inflation brings it up to 2000VND these days, roughly 11 US cents. The ones in San Jose banh mi stores cost one wild buck each, but they often lie on the counter unnoticed for who knows how long. “Posh” customers don’t go for the leafy wrapped treats when plastic and styrofoam and colorful packaging look more sanitized. City kids are not attracted to these because they don’t scream chocolate and sugar. Like the old country ham of North Carolina, bánh dừa has fallen out of the trend, and most of their makers have long put away the steamers for something more profitable.
I had a bánh dừa for dinner today. How much longer will its kind stay in the market to compete against the Western sweets? I don’t know.
————————–
Got it from: Kim’s Sandwiches
(in the Lion Supermarket area)
1816 Tully Rd 182, San Jose, CA 95111
(408) 270-8903
—————————
Previously on Sandwich Shop Goodies: bánh khảo/bánh in
Next on Sandwich Shop Goodies: bắp hầm (Vietnamese whole kernel grits)
I was just looking for this info for a while. After six hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your web site. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this kind of informative websites in top of the list. Normally the top web sites are full of garbage.
1I’m impressed, I need to say. Really not often do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Your concept is outstanding; the difficulty is something that not sufficient people are talking intelligently about. I’m very pleased that I stumbled across this in my search for something referring to this.
2Some genuinely nice stuff on this web site, I like it.
3Hey! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
4I reckon something genuinely interesting about your web blog so I saved to fav.
5I’m impressed, I need to say. Actually hardly ever do I encounter a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you will have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is excellent; the problem is something that not sufficient persons are talking intelligently about. I am very comfortable that I stumbled throughout this in my search for one thing regarding this.
6There is noticeably a bundle to find out about this. I assume you made sure good factors in options also.
7I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on. All the best
8Awsome site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also
9I am no longer positive the place you’re getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend a while learning much more or working out more. Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this information for my mission.
10Hello.This article was really fascinating, especially because I was looking for thoughts on this subject last Wednesday.
11A person essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish incredible. Wonderful job!
12Thank you for another informative blog. Where else could I get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I’ve a project that I’m just now working on, and I have been on the look out for such information.
13I got what you mean ,saved to fav, very nice internet site.
14Hello there I am so glad I found your weblog, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Google for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a marvelous post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the superb work.
15There is visibly a bunch to identify about this. I believe you made some nice points in features also.
16Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your website in web explorer, might check thisK IE still is the marketplace leader and a big component to other people will omit your wonderful writing due to this problem.
17You are a very bright individual!
18Honey trick for erectile dysfunction
19I went over this internet site and I conceive you have a lot of good information, saved to favorites (:.
20Once I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a remark is added I get four emails with the identical comment. Is there any approach you possibly can take away me from that service? Thanks!
21I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.
22This really answered my downside, thank you!
23But wanna comment that you have a very nice internet site, I enjoy the style it actually stands out.
24you’re really a good webmaster. The web site loading speed is amazing. It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Furthermore, The contents are masterwork. you have done a fantastic job on this topic!
25Definitely, what a magnificent blog and illuminating posts, I surely will bookmark your blog.All the Best!
26I’ve read several good stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to make such a magnificent informative site.
27Hello. fantastic job. I did not anticipate this. This is a splendid story. Thanks!
28I don’t even understand how I stopped up right here, but I believed this put up was great. I don’t recognise who you’re but certainly you are going to a well-known blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
29I am now not certain where you are getting your information, however great topic. I must spend some time learning more or figuring out more. Thank you for fantastic information I was in search of this info for my mission.
30There’s noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain good factors in options also.
31As soon as I detected this internet site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
32Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!…
33Nice post. I learn something more challenging on different blogs everyday. It will always be stimulating to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their store. I’d prefer to use some with the content on my blog whether you don’t mind. Natually I’ll give you a link on your web blog. Thanks for sharing.
34You are my inhalation, I have few blogs and rarely run out from brand :). “Follow your inclinations with due regard to the policeman round the corner.” by W. Somerset Maugham.
35I am not certain where you’re getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or working out more. Thank you for fantastic information I used to be on the lookout for this information for my mission.
36I am not real great with English but I get hold this real easygoing to understand.
37Howdy I am so delighted I found your website, I really found you by error, while I was searching on Yahoo for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a marvelous post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the great work.
38I am now not certain where you are getting your info, however great topic. I must spend some time finding out more or working out more. Thanks for excellent info I used to be looking for this information for my mission.
39I am not real fantastic with English but I come up this rattling leisurely to understand.
40Some truly superb blog posts on this website, appreciate it for contribution. “A liar should have a good memory.” by Quintilian.
41I just couldn’t depart your website before suggesting that I extremely loved the usual info an individual supply in your guests? Is going to be again steadily to inspect new posts
42F*ckin’ remarkable things here. I’m very glad to see your post. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
43순천출장마사지 타임케어 – 순천출장홈타이와 순천출장안마 순천홈타이 서비스를 전국 어디서나 24시간 편하게! 전문 마사지사의 맞춤 홈케어로 피로를 빠르게 해소
44Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
45시알리스의 성분인 타다라필과 효과, 지속시간, 5mg·10mg·20mg 차이를 알아보세요. 복용 방식, 부작용, 함께 복용하면 안 되는 약, 처방과 가격 확인 방법을 정리했습니다.
46시알리스의 성분인 타다라필과 효과, 지속시간, 5mg·10mg·20mg 차이를 알아보세요. 복용 방식, 부작용, 함께 복용하면 안 되는 약, 처방과 가격 확인 방법을 정리했습니다.
47비아그라 구매 전 알아야 할 국내 처방 절차와 약국 이용 방법, 가격 확인 기준을 안내합니다. 실데나필 성분, 정품 확인 시 주의점, 복용 전 상담사항과 자주 묻는 질문을 확인하세요.
48팔팔정의 성분과 효과, 50mg·100mg 차이, 복용 시간과 부작용을 확인하세요. 처방 및 가격 확인 방법, 함께 복용하면 안 되는 약, 자주 묻는 질문까지 안내합니다.
49팔팔정의 성분과 효과, 50mg·100mg 차이, 복용 시간과 부작용을 확인하세요. 처방 및 가격 확인 방법, 함께 복용하면 안 되는 약, 자주 묻는 질문까지 안내합니다.
50