Bánh lá facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bánh lá

A plate of cooked bánh tẻ, wrapped with Phrynium placentarium leaves, before being unwrapped for eating
Type	Bánh or dumpling
Place of origin	Vietnam
Region or state	Southeast Asia
Associated national cuisine	Vietnam
Main ingredients	Rice

A bánh ít wrapped in banana leaf

Bánh lá (pronounced "banh la") means "leaf cake" in Vietnamese. It's a special kind of Vietnamese cake or dumpling that's always wrapped in a leaf. These tasty treats are usually made from different types of rice and have yummy fillings inside.

Discovering Bánh Lá: Vietnamese Leaf Cakes

Bánh lá are a popular part of Vietnamese cuisine. They are unique because they are cooked and served while still wrapped in a leaf. This wrapping gives them a special flavor and helps keep them fresh. People in Vietnam enjoy bánh lá as snacks, desserts, or even as part of a meal.

Different Kinds of Bánh Lá

There are many different types of bánh lá, each with its own special ingredients and shape. Here are some examples:

• Bánh bột lọc is a clear, chewy cake made from cassava flour. It's often filled with shrimp and pork, then wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed.
• Bánh chưng is a famous square-shaped rice cake, especially popular during the Vietnamese New Year. It's made from sticky rice, mung beans, and pork, all wrapped tightly in a special leaf and boiled for many hours.
• Bánh dừa means "coconut cake." This cake is made from sticky rice mixed with black beans and cooked in coconut juice. It's wrapped in a coconut leaf, and the filling can be mung bean or even banana.
• Bánh gai gets its name from the "gai" tree (Boehmeria nivea). The leaves of this tree are dried, boiled, and ground into a powder, then mixed with sticky rice. The cake is wrapped in a banana leaf and filled with a mix of coconut, mung bean, peanuts, and sesame seeds.
• Bánh giầy is a white, flat, and round cake made from sticky rice. It has a chewy texture and is often served with a mung bean filling or with Vietnamese sausage (giò lụa).
• Bánh giò is a pyramid-shaped dumpling. It's made from rice dough and filled with pork, shallots, and wood ear mushrooms. This dumpling is also wrapped in a banana leaf before being cooked.
• Bánh ít is a general name for several small, often triangular, dumplings.
  • Bánh ít lá gai is a triangular dumpling wrapped in a ramie leaf. It's quite similar to the Chinese zongzi.
  • Bánh ít tro is a special type of bánh ít eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival (called Tết Đoan Ngọ in Vietnamese).
• Bánh nậm is a flat dumpling from the city of Hue. It's made from rice flour and usually filled with shrimp and pork, then wrapped in a banana leaf.
• Bánh phu thê literally means "husband and wife cake." It's a sweet, colorful cake made from rice or tapioca flour and gelatin, often filled with sweet mung bean paste. It's a popular treat at weddings.
• Bánh tẻ is a savory rice cake, often long and cylindrical, filled with ground pork, wood ear mushrooms, and onions. It's wrapped in a leaf and steamed.
• Bánh tét is another famous sticky rice cake, similar to bánh chưng but cylindrical in shape. It's also eaten during the Vietnamese New Year and can have sweet or savory fillings.
• Bánh tro and bánh ú are two other types of cakes that are traditionally eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival (Vietnamese: Tết Đoan Ngọ). They are often made with glutinous rice and a special kind of ash water, giving them a unique flavor and texture.

See also

In Spanish: Bánh lá para niños