Food & Receipts

Effective Remedies for Overcooked Bánh Chưng and Bánh Tét

Chung cakes, including "bánh chưng" and "bánh tét," are traditional cakes commonly enjoyed during the Tet holiday in Vietnam. However, not everyone knows the best way to cook these cakes to ensure they are evenly cooked and delicious. Let the Kitchen Tips section of Điện máy XANH reveal simple remedies to fix flat or uncooked chung cakes for you!

Administrator

20 October, 2023

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1 Why are bánh tét and bánh chưng raw or undercooked?

The reason bánh tét and bánh chưng can be raw or undercooked is due to mistakes made during the wrapping and boiling process. These mistakes can include wrapping the cake too tightly, which prevents the rice from expanding when boiling, causing the grains to separate from each other and for the filling to be undercooked. Additionally, if the cakes are not boiled long enough, they will not cook evenly, resulting in some parts of the cake being undercooked while other parts are cooked.

Therefore, when cutting the cake, the sticky rice will not be evenly cooked, with some grains still raw and some grains fully cooked, resulting in an unpleasant texture and taste.

2 How to fix raw or undercooked bánh tét and bánh chưng?

If bánh tét or bánh chưng is raw or undercooked, the first thing you need to do is open up the cake, then rewrap it without wrapping it too tightly. You can then steam or boil the cake again to make it soft and fully cooked.

Alternatively, you can open up the cake completely, cut it into small pieces, and fry them until golden with oil. You can then enjoy them with pickled onions, cucumber, or papaya salad, which complements the flavor of the cake and prevents it from going to waste.

Refer to 4 ways to fry bánh chưng (bánh tét) with water, oil, sweet and sour sauce for a delicious and satisfying snack

Refer to some recipes for pickled onions to enjoy with fried bánh chưng and bánh tét, which makes for a perfect combination

Learn how to make salty vegetables and papaya salad to enjoy with bánh chưng and bánh tét for a delicious and satisfying meal

3 How to wrap and boil bánh tét and bánh chưng to prevent them from being raw or undercooked?

Due to their similar nature, the wrapping and boiling process for bánh tét and bánh chưng is the same. In this article, we will focus on bánh chưng as an example, but you can follow the same steps for bánh tét.

How to wrap the cake to prevent it from being raw?

To prevent bánh tét and bánh chưng from being raw, the first step is to pay attention to the wrapping process. Use banana leaves or bamboo leaves to wrap the cake as they are more durable. Before wrapping, make sure to wash the leaves thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt and to make them easier to work with.

Soak the glutinous rice and mung beans in water for at least 10 hours to ensure that the cake will cook evenly and taste better.

When wrapping the cake, avoid wrapping it too tightly as the rice will be compressed and unable to expand fully, resulting in undercooked filling and rice that is too hard.

On the other hand, if the cake is wrapped too loosely, it will absorb water and become soggy, losing its flavor and becoming susceptible to mold and spoilage. Therefore, you should aim for a medium tightness when wrapping the cake, neither too tight nor too loose.

How to boil the cake to prevent it from being raw?

It is important to boil bánh tét and bánh chưng for an adequate amount of time. If the cake is not boiled long enough, it will be raw and susceptible to spoilage. The recommended boiling time is between 10 and 12 hours, with the heat adjusted to a high temperature, avoiding low or weak heat during the boiling process.

When boiling the cake, use boiling water as cold water can make the cake cook unevenly.

After the bánh tét or bánh chưng is fully cooked, take the cakes out and use a damp cloth to clean off the sticky residue on the outer layer of the cake. Stack the cakes on top of each other, then press them with a wooden board or any heavy object for a few hours.

The weight applied to the cakes helps push the remaining water out, resulting in a firm and flavorful cake that is not moist and will last longer.

Store the cakes in a dry and well-ventilated place to keep them fresh and prevent spoilage. If the weather is hot, it is advisable to store the cakes in a cool place to avoid them going bad.

If you have leftover bánh chưng or bánh tét, you can refer to the following article for some tips on how to store them properly to prevent them from turning sour or moldy.

The above information provides effective techniques for making sure that your bánh chưng and bánh tét are cooked properly during the Lunar New Year. We hope that this article helps you cook a delicious batch of bánh chưng and bánh tét. Enjoy!