Vietnamese food has distinct flavours and an unforgettable nature, and despite its frequent use of pork, you can find some of the best Halal Vietnamese dishes if you look. Influenced by French colonisation, and surrounding countries like Loas and Cambodia, these dishes will leave your taste buds in delight, hungry for more. Even though beef and pork are generally staples, dishes also substitute seafood for the protein, and you have vegetarian options as well, so there is something for everyone.
Here is our guide to Halal Vietnamese food dishes:
This seafood dish is unique to northern Vietnam as is cooked with dill. The base of the dish is white flaky fish sautéed with vegetables and dill, served with noodles and peanuts for crunch, and different places offer their slightly different take on it.
Noodles are a staple in Vietnam, dressed up in many different ways. Since meat is a major part of this dish, make sure you know that it’s Halal beef in there and not pork. They bring the meat noodles to life with quail eggs, shrimp, nuts, mint, and flavorsome oils.
Now here is a 100% Halal dish that you do not have to worry about. This vegetarian plate of banana flower salad with lime and chili adding a kick is a refreshing alternative to meat meals.
Here is another completely delicious, completely vegetarian dish! A favorite street snack, Bot Chien is made with chunks of rice dough fried until crispy, with an egg broken into the mix. It is served with papaya, shallots, and green onions, while pickled chili sauce and rice vinegar provide a kick of flavor.
A staple vegetable in Vietnam, it is also known as water spinach or morning glory. Cooked a few different ways, the greens are either stir-fried or used in soup, flavored with other typical Vietnamese vegetables. Who says you can’t eat healthy on a holiday!
A number of Vietnamese dishes are noodles in soup, with other add-ons, and Hue is a city in Vietnam associated with the style of cooking of the former royal court. This popular dish is a soup containing vermicelli and beef and is favored for its balance of flavors of sour, sweet, spicy, and salty.
Probably one of the best Halal Vietnamese food, Canh Chua is (literally) a “sour soup” made with fish, pineapple, tomatoes, and other vegetables in a tamarind flavored broth. If you are not a fan of fish, you can also find variations of this dish including prawns, squid, fish cakes, or quail eggs.
Goi is the Vietnamese word for salad, and if this is your forte, be sure that your idea of a salad will be stretched in Vietnam! They rarely use lettuce leaves, opting instead, for papaya, mango, lotus root, cabbage or pomelo for the base. Since there are meats in a salad as well, always check to make sure that you have chicken or veggies in yours and no pork.
These little balls of dough are deep-fried goodness with sesame seeds sprinkled on top and stuffed with sweet mung bean paste. A Vietnamese favorite for dessert!
Even though this is not technically a dish, it is worth a mention since this is what will make every dish you eat better. The spice and strength of flavors are controlled in Vietnam by offering sauces on the side instead of mixing it in the dish, which leaves your taste buds tingling and wanting more instead of overpowering them. Nuoc Cham is that magic portion that you can down all on its own, found on almost every table. Made with fish sauce and flavored with lime, chili, sugar, and garlic – and sometimes with a shredded carrot or lemongrass – it is the perfect balance of sweet, sour, spicy, and salty.
There is some great Halal Vietnamese food out there, so don’t be afraid to give things a try! Also, be sure to add any Halal yumminess you might find onto the Halal Food Spotter so that everyone can try it. Sharing is caring! Click on the below links to download the free App:
