Banh Chung

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Bánh Chưng is a Vietnamese food consisting of sticky rice wrapped in 'dzong' leaves and stuffed with mung beans, fatty pork and black pepper. It is traditionally eaten during the Lunar New Year (Tet). The south Vietnamese version typically has various other ingredients added (such as red banana or red bean paste), wrapped in banana leaves to cylindrical shape and is known as bánh Tet.

Banh Chung is eaten with a large variety of dried and then pickled vegetables.

During the Lunar New Year, families often offer gifts of Banh Chung to other families, and it is typical for a family to end up with piles left of uneaten Banh Chung, long past the holiday.

A popular alternative is to fry the banh chung (giving it a quite different texture and taste). This is called Banh Chung Chien (Bánh Chưng Chiên).

• See also: Banh day