The Ultimate Guide to Making Delicious and Appetizing Hue Pressed Cake with a Mold

Let's embark on a culinary journey to the enchanting city of Hue, Vietnam, and uncover the secrets of creating the delightful and renowned Hue pressed cake. With just a few simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you can craft these delicious and aromatic treats in the comfort of your own home.

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Bánh ép Huế



Preparation:
20 minutes


Cooking time:
30 minutes


Servings:
2-3 people

Bánh Ép Huế is a humble dish yet packed with the distinctive flavors of the ancient capital city of Huế. This thin, crispy cake, sandwiched with a savory filling of meat, shrimp, and eggs, is best enjoyed with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

This article will guide you through the process of making Bánh Ép Huế with a mold, so you can indulge in this delicious treat at home.

1. Ingredients for Bánh Ép Huế

  • 425g rice flour
  • 450g tapioca starch
  • 300g shrimp, cleaned and deveined
  • 25g shallots, diced
  • 4 eggs
  • Spring onions, minced
  • Garlic, minced
  • Seasonings: salt, sugar, fish sauce, ground black pepper, chicken broth powder

Ingredients for Bánh Ép Huế

2. Cooking Instructions for Bánh Ép Huế

Step 1 Sauté the Shrimp and Meat Filling

In a pan, combine the ground pork with 1/3 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, and 125ml of water. Cook over high heat. When the pork is no longer pink and the water has almost evaporated, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and 25g of diced shallots. Continue cooking for about 1 minute before turning off the heat.

Sautéing the meat filling

Sautéing shrimp

Step 2 Mix the Dough

In a bowl, combine 425g of rice flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Mix well using a machine at the lowest speed. After 30 seconds, gradually add 294ml of boiling water and continue mixing for 4 minutes.

After 4 minutes, increase the speed to medium and mix for another 2 minutes. Transfer the dough onto a surface dusted with tapioca starch to prevent sticking. Roll the dough into a long log and cut it into equal portions, then shape them into balls.

Mixing and shaping the dough

Step 3 Press the Cakes

Before pressing the cakes, prepare two bowls: beat 4 eggs in one bowl and combine 3 tablespoons of chopped spring onions with 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in the other.

Place the cake press over medium heat and grease it with oil. When the press is hot, place a dough ball in the center and press it into a thin cake. Keep it pressed for 1 minute over low heat.

After a minute, open the press and add some egg, pate, spring onions, shrimp, and meat. Close the press and cook for another 30 seconds.

Pressing the cakes

Step 4 Make the Dipping Sauce

In a bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of boiling water, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of sugar, a little garlic, some chopped chili, and a squeeze of lime juice. Stir well to dissolve the sugar and salt.

Making the dipping sauce

Step 5 Serve

Place some herbs in the center of the cake and roll it up. Dip it in the sweet and sour sauce and enjoy!

Serving suggestion

3. Enjoy!

Bánh Ép Huế is best enjoyed hot, as the crispy cake complements the rich filling of meat and shrimp, fresh herbs, and the sweet and sour dipping sauce. It’s a delightful combination of textures and flavors.

Enjoying Bánh Ép Huế

Bánh Ép Huế is a simple yet delicious snack. With these detailed instructions, you can now make this tasty treat at home and share it with your family and friends.

Source: KT Food Stories

Frequently asked questions

A traditional Vietnamese delicacy, Hue pressed cake is a glutinous rice dish with a unique mold-created shape and a delicate, savory taste.

The process begins with soaking and grinding rice, followed by a careful steaming process. The rice is then mixed with a special mold-resistant powder and pressed into a wooden mold, giving it its distinct shape. After a day of drying, the cake is ready to be enjoyed.

The key ingredients are glutinous rice, water, and mold-resistant powder. Additionally, you will need a wooden mold and a steamer for the preparation process.

The preparation time is approximately 2 hours, including the soaking, grinding, and steaming of the rice. However, the drying process takes a full day, so it is important to plan ahead when making this delicacy.

Yes, you can experiment with adding ingredients such as shredded chicken, shrimp, or mushrooms to the mixture. Traditional recipes also call for a dash of fish sauce to enhance the savory flavor.

These cakes can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. However, they are best enjoyed fresh, as the texture and flavor are at their peak.

Yes, it is important to generously coat the wooden mold with mold-resistant powder before adding the rice mixture. Additionally, allowing the cake to cool slightly before removing it from the mold can help ensure a clean release.