Back Eat & Drink » Food Culture » A Look at Vietnam's 'Paper' Food

A Look at Vietnam's 'Paper' Food

Vietnamese food not only features a wide range of ingredients, but also takes many different forms, from steaming bowls of phở to crispy bánh xèo. One of the more unique forms of Vietnamese cuisine is that of the flat variety, with everything from milk to mangos being compressed into "paper" sheets.

 Milk Paper

Milk paper is a wonderful mixture of coconut milk, sugar and durian. This perfect fusion results in an flavorful taste that literally melts in your mouth (yes, kind of like M&Ms). If you want to get to pro status, try lightly grilling the paper, altering the texture from chewy to crispy.

Sweet Potato Paper

Another paper that is best when lightly grilled over low heat, the subtle ginger smell elevates the flavor profile of this delicacy.   

Mango Paper

Mango paper, which has a distinct brown hue, is for those with a sweet tooth. Like the fresh fruit, the flavor combination of sweet and sour is an ideal comfort food and a great companion for a tea break.

Banana Paper

Slices of banana sacrifice their individuality to join together to create a perfect sheet of sweet paper. The key is selecting bananas that are fully ripe as they naturally stick together while being flattened and conjoined. This can make for a lovely snack but I’ve made the mistake of going overboard. Instant stomach ache.

Related Articles

in Food Culture

'Trendy' Elephant Poop Coffee Taking off in Vietnam

Vietnam is known for its cafe chồn, coffee beans that are ingested, pooped out by weasels and sold at prices far higher than the normal variety. Now, a Vietnamese breeder is adopting a similar techniq...

Michael Tatarski

in Food Culture

'Đùm Bọc' Uses Vietnamese Food to Raise Funds for Covid-19 Relief in Vietnam

Residents of New York City are in for a treat.

in Food Culture

10 of Hue's Most Delicious Dishes

You probably just finished lunch but this list of 10 iconic dishes from Hue should get you appetite going again. Food Republic’s Laurie Woolever recently visited Vietnam’s imperial capital on the look...

in Food Culture

2 Vietnamese Restaurants in Saigon, Hanoi Named Among Asia's 100 Best

Vietnam’s culinary prowess is no secret, with its traditional dishes helping to draw tourists from all over the globe. 

in Food Culture

20 Vietnamese Foods You Need to Try Now

Uyen Luu, author of My Vietnamese Kitchen and contributor to Jamie Oliver’s FoodTube, shares her favorite Vietnamese dishes and how to cook them.

in Food Culture

30% of Coffee in Vietnam Has No Caffeine: Survey

If you've been seeking out cà phê sữa đá from street carts for a super-caffeinated start to your workday, you might want to look elsewhere, as there’s a chance you've been drinking coffee-flavore...

Partner Content