vietnamese Cuisine
The tropical monsoon climate of Vietnam makes for a lush
greenness of rampant vegetation.
In Vietnamese cooking, exotic spices such as galangal and
green peppercorns are blended with handfuls of fresh coriander, basil and mint.
Spicy chillies are mellowed by sweet coconut and peanuts, then Vietnamese
spices such as bay, aniseed and lemongrass add their distinctive flavours.
The result is a fascinating cuisine to tempt the most
adventurous spirit.
Vietnamese cuisine is based upon rice and the infamous and
essential nuoc mam (fish sauce) which enhances other Vietnamese ingredients by
lifting their flavours. However, Vietnamese spices and herbs shape the cuisine,
which has been forged over the centuries by Chinese, French, Thai and Indian
culinary influences.
Bustling streets are lined with vendors offering an
incredible array of delectable snacks prepared with the freshest of Vietnamese
ingredients. Sizzling pancakes, fresh spring rolls and rice cakes abound,
against a backdrop of the spiced fragrant broth called pho which is poured
over bowls of rice noodles piled with Vietnamese herbs, vegetables and meat.
The pounding of mortars in large stone pestles is a familiar
sound as Vietnamese spices are ground with chillies and garlic, into aromatic
pastes. Freshly purchased daily at market, other Vietnamese ingredients are
then flavoured with the pastes.
Vietnamese cooking has recently gained huge popularity in
the West and has become relatively easy to achieve now that Vietnamese ingredients
are widely obtainable. A superb array of good Vietnamese cookery books are
available and the internet offers infinite recipes, including those for the
many Vietnamese dipping sauces and condiments.
Many other Asian ingredients (also available from Seasoned
Pioneers), such as Birdseye chillies, lemongrass, galangal, shrimp paste and
tamarind are married with Vietnamese spices to achieve the characteristic
flavours found in Vietnamese cooking. Our selection of essential Vietnamese
spices include Anise seeds, Vietnamese peppercorns, Cloves (whole or ground), Cinnamon
bark, Star Anise (whole or ground), Ginger (whole or ground), Curry leaves and Green
peppercorns.
Should you need any further
information about Vietnamese cooking and Vietnamese spices and ingredients, do
get in contact and
we will do our best to help you!
vietnamese seasonings