Rice paper (bánh tráng)

Galette de riz (bánh tráng)

What it is

Rice batter is spread on cloth stretched over a boiling pot, steamed for half a minute and lifted onto woven bamboo racks to dry in the sun; the crosshatch printed on every sheet is the rack. At Trảng Bàng in Tây Ninh the dried sheets are grilled and then left out overnight to take the dew, which makes them pliable with no dipping at all — a craft listed as national heritage in 2016.

In the kitchen

One second in warm water per sheet and no more: pull it out while it still feels stiff and let it finish softening on the plate while you fill it. A sheet that felt ready in the bowl will be torn by the time you roll it.

Goes with

Shrimp Pork belly Mint Vietnamese coriander Peanut Fish sauce Lettuce

Same species

Akazu Arborio rice Basmati rice Black glutinous rice Black rice Bomba rice

Also used with

Fish mint (diếp cá) Lolot leaf

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