Recently, Vietnam’s banh bot loc (translucent dumplings) has been honored by the renowned American news agency CNN as one of the world’s tastiest dumplings.
Food experts acknowledge that dumplings made from dough with various fillings, found across the globe, range from simple to complex preparations, retaining the distinctive flavors of their regions, appealing to a wide range of palates.
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Banh bot loc is the only Vietnamese dish listed in CNN’s “The world’s tastiest dumplings” announced on March 28th. It consists of shrimp and pork filling encased in a translucent tapioca flour wrapper. The transparent dough differs from other dumplings like har gow and bao.
The outer tapioca dough is chewy, complementing the sweet filling from the pork, shrimp, etc. The recipe for banh bot loc can vary regionally. For instance, in Northern Vietnam, the filling might include ground pork, wood ear mushrooms, and possibly shrimp. In Central Vietnam, there are various types: leaf-wrapped, plain, vegetarian, fried, with savory or sweet fillings.
The dumplings are commonly served with sweet and sour fish sauce to enhance the flavor. They can be wrapped in banana leaves or not, prepared by steaming or boiling.
Banh bot loc is a well-known dish in Vietnam, originating from Hue and later becoming popular nationwide. Diners can find and enjoy it in most provinces and cities.
Xiao long bao (xiaolongbao) tops CNN’s list. Photo: K.Y. Cheng/SCMP
In addition to Vietnam’s banh bot loc, the list is topped by xiaolongbao, a type of dim sum popular in China, similar to dumplings but filled with pork, shrimp, crab, or minced vegetables. This dish is also known as soup dumplings because inside the thin and chewy wrapper is hot broth.
Moreover, there are many other famous dumplings and dumpling-like dishes worldwide such as mandu (Korea), Pierogi (Poland), Pelmeni (Russia), spicy wontons (China), Empanada (Argentina)…
Previously, CNN also released a list of the “20 most delicious meat-based broths in the world,” including Vietnam’s pho bo.
@Vietnamnet
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Source: Vietnam Insider