Bánh giầy facts for kids

Bánh giầy is a special traditional cake from Vietnam. You might also see it spelled as bánh dầy or bánh dày. It's a white, flat, and round cake made from a sticky type of rice called glutinous rice. These yummy cakes are often wrapped in pieces of banana leaves.

People usually eat Bánh giầy with a kind of Vietnamese sausage called giò lụa. Sometimes, Bánh giầy is fried until it has a thin, crispy, golden crust. Other times, it's simply enjoyed with the sausage.

There's also a different version called bánh giầy đậu. This one has a sweet or salty filling made from ground mung beans. Bánh giầy is quite similar to other sticky rice cakes found in Asian cuisine, like Japanese mochi, Korean tteok, or Chinese lo mai chi.

The Ancient Story of Bánh Giầy

This traditional cake has a cool story from a long time ago. It's about an emperor and his sons.

The Emperor's Challenge

Emperor Hùng Vương had many sons. Some loved books and learning. Others were great at fighting and martial arts. But the youngest prince, named Lang Liêu, was different. He loved farming and lived a simple life in the countryside with his family.

One day, the emperor gathered all his sons. He told them he would choose a new emperor. The one who brought him the most special and unusual food would get the throne. All the princes quickly left to find the best food. Some went hunting for rare birds and animals. They cooked them into amazing dishes. Others sailed the seas to catch fish and lobsters. They didn't let bad weather stop them from finding the best gifts.

Lang Liêu's Simple Idea

Lang Liêu went back to his farm. He saw his rice fields were ready for harvest. He picked some golden grains of sticky rice. He smelled their sweet, delicate scent.

His whole family helped harvest the rice. Lang Liêu ground the sticky rice into fine flour. His wife mixed it with water to make a soft dough. His children helped build a fire and wrap the cakes in leaves. Soon, they had two kinds of cakes. One was round, and the other was square.

The round cake was made from sticky rice dough. Lang Liêu called it bánh dầy. The square cake was named bánh chưng. He made it with rice, green beans, and wrapped it in leaves. Everyone was very happy with these new cakes.

The Emperor's Choice

On the first day of Spring, the princes brought their gifts to the emperor. One prince brought steamed fish and mushrooms. Another brought roasted peacock and lobsters. All the food looked beautiful and delicious.

Then it was Lang Liêu's turn. He carried the bánh chưng, and his wife carried the bánh dầy. Other princes made fun of his simple gifts. But after tasting all the food, the emperor made his decision. He said the first prize went to Lang Liêu.

The emperor explained that Lang Liêu's gifts were the purest. They were also the most meaningful. Lang Liêu had used only rice, which was the main food for everyone. So, the emperor gave his throne to Lang Liêu. All the other princes bowed and congratulated the new emperor.