5-Thu Sticky Rice Cake

Bánh Chưng is more than just a food — it is the symbolic heart of Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tết Nguyên Đán). This square-shaped sticky rice cake is meticulously wrapped in fragrant banana leaves and tied with flexible dong leaves or string. Inside lies a perfect harmony of ingredients: premium glutinous rice soaked until plump, layered with soft yellow mung beans that have been carefully seasoned, and generous pieces of tender, fatty pork belly marinated with shallots, fish sauce, and black pepper. After being boiled gently for 8 to 10 hours, the cake transforms into a dense, aromatic masterpiece. When sliced, the glossy green banana leaf releases its signature earthy scent, revealing the beautiful contrast of snow-white sticky rice, golden mung bean paste, and savory pink pork. Each bite offers a wonderful balance — chewy yet tender rice, creamy beans, and melt-in-your-mouth pork fat that carries the deep umami of traditional Vietnamese seasonings. For generations, making Bánh Chưng has been a cherished family ritual: gathering together to soak rice, wrap the cakes with love, and tend to the boiling pots overnight while sharing stories and laughter. It represents gratitude for the earth (square shape symbolizes the Earth), prosperity, and the unbreakable bond of family. Whether enjoyed warm with pickled vegetables and Vietnamese sausage (chả lụa), pan-fried until crispy on the outside, or simply sliced with a sprinkle of sugar, Bánh Chưng brings the authentic taste of Vietnamese tradition to your table. Ingredients: Glutinous rice, mung beans, pork belly, black pepper, wrapped in banana leaves.