Savory Vietnamese Turmeric Crepes (Banh Xeo) with Creole Shrimp

Here is another recipe as a part of my "Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: Celebrating Mardi Gras, with Vietnamese Flair" post!


Savory Vietnamese Turmeric Crepes (Banh Xeo) with Creole Shrimp
1 1/2 cups of long-grain rice flour (not glutinous rice flour and can use 1 to 1 1/4 cups only, for a lighter, less dense, and more translucent and glassy crepe)
1 can of unsweetened coconut milk (13.5 fl oz)
1/2 tsp of turmeric powder
3 green onion sprigs, chopped finely (with whites and greens)
cooking oil, for frying

12 cooked Creole shrimp
1/2 lb of cooked pork, cut into bite-sized slivers
1/4 lb of mung bean sprouts
1 head of tender lettuce, such as red leaf lettuce
1 bundle of fresh mint
nuoc cham dressing, for serving

Whisk the rice flour, coconut milk, and tumeric powder together until it reaches the consistency of pancake batter. Add the flour into the milk, slowly, making sure the batter is not too thick. Meanwhile, heat approximately 1 tbsp of cooking oil in a non-stick pan on high heat. Swirl the oil around evenly. When the oil begins to shimmer, pour the crepe mixture onto the pan, spreading the mixture on the surface of the oiled pan with a heat-resistant spatula. Sprinkle green onions on the surface of the uncooked crepe. Flip when the crepe when it is crisp and browned on the pan-side. The crepe is finished when both sides are crisp and lightly browned--just like a well-done omelet.


Plate the crepe, and fill it with the shrimp, pork, mung bean sprouts, lettuce, and mint, and fold the crepe over the filling like an omelet. Serve with a small bowl of nuoc cham.


I hope you enjoy this traditional Vietnamese recipe, with a New Orleans-style addition!