5best2buy
The Recipe · No.586 · Banh Xeo

Banh Xeo, and where to source it

Banh Xeo — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Banh Xeo Vietnamese 5best2buy.com

Banh xeo means sizzling cake, named for the sound the batter makes hitting the hot pan — that sizzle is how you know the pan is right for a lacy, crisp edge. The batter is thin rice flour and coconut milk with turmeric; swirl it fast and thin, because a thick pour steams instead of crisping.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep25 min
Cook20 min
Makes4 crepes
CuisineVietnamese
Cost$$$
Gluten-freeDairy-free
Contains  fish · shellfish
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 4 crepes
Shrimp and pork
Sliced pork belly and small shrimp cook right in the crepe as it sets.
1/2 lb each
Shrimp → Pork →
Rice flour
The base of the batter; it fries far crisper than wheat flour.
2 cups
Source it →
Fish sauce
Base of the nuoc cham you dip every bite into.
3 tbsp
Source it →
Coconut milk
Thinned into the batter for richness and a tender-crisp edge.
1 cup
Source it →
Bean sprouts and herbs
A handful of sprouts folded in, plus lettuce and herbs to wrap.
2 cups
Local / market
Turmeric
Ground turmeric turns the batter its signature yellow.
1 tsp
Source it →
The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat
A reasonable little indulgence.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
One-pot
The Method
  1. Mix the batterWhisk rice flour, coconut milk, water, turmeric, and salt into a thin batter; rest 20 minutes.
  2. Cook the fillingFry pork and shrimp in a hot oiled skillet until nearly done.
  3. Pour and swirlPour a thin ladle of batter and swirl fast to coat; it should sizzle loudly.
  4. Crisp and foldAdd sprouts, cover 2 minutes, then fry uncovered until the edges are lacy and crisp; fold in half.
The Toolkit

Nonstick pan · Ladle · Whisk · Chef knife · Mixing bowl

Straight Answers
Can you make Banh Xeo in an air fryer? — Not really

Not really — loose batter spreads and needs a flat, hot surface. Keep this one on the stovetop or griddle.

Can you freeze Banh Xeo? — Not ideal

You can, but the crisp coating softens. Freeze the cooked pieces, then re-crisp them in a hot oven or air fryer — never the microwave.

Can you make Banh Xeo ahead of time? — Prep ahead

Best fried to order — the crunch fades if it sits. Do the breading or shaping ahead and cook it fresh when you serve.

Is Banh Xeo gluten-free? — Yes

Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.

Is Banh Xeo vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.

Loading notes…

Notes are public and posted as written. Be kind, no links. Spam and abuse get removed.

More Vietnamese recipes
Bun Bo HueVietnamese CoffeeNuoc ChamFresh Summer RollsShaking BeefPho Ga
All Vietnamese recipes →  ·  Browse all 1433 →
One list, with a link to where to buy each one.

Some ingredient and tool links are affiliate links — if you buy through one, 5best2buy may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never costs the maker anything, and it never decides who we recommend. The list is the list.
© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.586

Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →