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As Tet approaches, households bustle with preparations to treat their families. But do you know what the Tet dishes in southern Vietnam are and how to prepare them? Referencing the insights shared by Mytour below will help you create the most delicious and memorable meals.
1. Tet dishes in southern Vietnam made from meat
A delicious Tet feast is incomplete without dishes made from meat, adding richness and flavor to your meals. Below are some dishes that you definitely shouldn't miss during Tet.
Braised Pork in Coconut Sauce
Braised pork in coconut sauce is a traditional dish that has been a part of Vietnamese culture for a long time, and it's also a must-have dish for every new year. Each piece of meat, with both lean and fatty parts, is neatly cut and cooked until tender, giving it a fragrant and rich flavor. The braising sauce, simmered for a long time, is thick and flavorful when eaten with hot rice. Moreover, the recipe for braised pork in coconut sauce is incredibly simple; just a few steps and you'll have a delicious dish. You can refer to Mytour's recipe for braised pork in coconut sauce.
Photo: Gentle Fragrance
Pork Braised in Coconut Milk
Alongside the traditional braised pork in coconut sauce, braised pork in coconut water is also a popular dish during the traditional Tet. This braised pork dish follows a similar recipe to braised pork in coconut sauce, but the highlight is the deliciously fragrant and rich coconut water, making the pork tender and mouthwatering. To make this dish irresistible, it's best to braise the pork in a clay pot, cutting the meat into chunks about 2cm thick, and simmering it over low heat to ensure everyone is enchanted when it's served.
Photo: Collected
Braised Pork with Eggs
One of the essential Tet dishes in southern Vietnam is braised pork with eggs, loved by both children and adults alike. The pork is cooked until tender, while the eggs absorb the flavorful spices, especially the rich brown sauce that makes everyone marvel at its deliciousness.
Photo: Collection
Coconut Beef Stew
Coconut beef stew, fragrant and nutritious, is an indispensable dish for family gatherings during Tet. Its visually appealing, fresh colors come from the flavorful and aromatic pieces of beef cooked in coconut water. When served, coconut beef stew can be enjoyed with rice, noodles, bread, or rice noodles, suitable for a hearty breakfast to start the day. The recipe for coconut beef stew is simple and won't take much time during Tet; you can refer to Mytour's recipe: Southern-style beef stew recipe.
Photo: Collection
Spring Rolls
Alongside main dishes like chicken, pork, and vegetable soups, Spring Rolls made from pork and beef are also a traditional dish often found on the Tet dinner table. Crafting Spring Rolls requires meticulous effort, using fresh pork that has just been slaughtered will ensure the rolls are tasty and have firm meat. Moreover, Spring Rolls during Tet are considered an excellent appetizer that can be stored for days without spoilage.
Photo: Collection
Phá Lấu
When it comes to Tet dishes in southern Vietnam, one cannot overlook Phá Lấu, a dish that has become very familiar and popular in daily life. Phá Lấu has an attractive color, consisting of ears, tongue, intestines, pork, or beef, duck, squid... To make Phá Lấu delicious, you need to prepare it carefully to avoid any unpleasant smell when eating, especially to cook the meat to the right level of tenderness. The broth, rich and fragrant, served with rice during Tet, will be very tasty.
Photo: Collection
2. Traditional Soups on Tet in Southern Vietnam
A meal during Tet cannot be complete without soup, this dish helps cool down the body and is very refreshing. Here are some common Tet soups that are easy to make and you can refer to.
Bamboo Shoot Soup
A bowl of bamboo shoot soup epitomizes the flavor of Tet, so during the Lunar New Year, every family's kitchen cannot be without bamboo shoot soup. Bamboo shoot soup is often simmered with pork ribs, and the ribs have plenty of tender, fragrant meat. Simmering the bone broth for a long time results in a naturally sweet and enticing flavor, suitable for both lunch and dinner.
Photo: Collection
Bitter Melon Soup with Stuffed Meat
During Tet in the Southern region, bitter melon soup stuffed with meat is a must-have dish. This dish serves as evidence of luck, hoping that the old year passes and the new year brings peace and prosperity. Moreover, for housewives, this dish is quite simple to prepare, with easily accessible ingredients such as meat, bitter melon, onions, pepper, and other spices.
Photo: Collection
Papaya Soup with Beef Meatballs
Papaya soup with beef meatballs has a sweet and fragrant broth that is easy to enjoy, especially during Tet when it symbolizes abundance and gathering around the family dinner table. Papaya is naturally sweet, and the beef meatballs are tender and delicious. Adding some aromatic herbs and spices makes it even more enticing.
Photo: Collection
Beef and Enoki Mushroom Soup
Beef and enoki mushroom soup is perfect for Tet, a soup that is easy to eat without being overwhelming and is very refreshing. This soup is also extremely nutritious, with tender beef and the delicious, unique flavor of enoki mushrooms bringing warmth to the whole family. If you're still wondering what to cook this Tet, beef and enoki mushroom soup will be a very enticing suggestion.
Photo: Collection
3. Traditional Tet Cakes in Southern Vietnam
Cakes are almost indispensable on every occasion from Tet to the arrival of spring, and in each region, there will be different types of cakes representing the cultural diversity of the people. Unlike the North, in the South, there are some typical delicious cakes that mothers and sisters choose to make, as follows:
Tet Cake (Banh Tet)
Tet Cake (Banh Tet) is often found on the altar during Tet in the South, considered an indispensable cake representing a cultural tradition passed down through generations. Unlike the Chung Cake in the North, Banh Tet in the South is wrapped in banana leaves and has a cylindrical shape, with green bean and pork fillings. In addition, to diversify, some families also add cashews, or use vegetarian, sweet, or banana fillings. When eating, the cake is deliciously chewy and fragrant.
Photo: Collection
Xoi Vo - Delicious Tet Dish in the Mekong Delta
Xoi symbolizes family reunion, prosperity, and abundance, so it is not only found in the Tet celebrations of the Northern people but also essential in the feasts of the Southern people. Xoi Vo is sticky rice dyed in a beautiful yellow color, often infused with fragrant and creamy coconut milk. Before serving, the sticky rice is molded into attractive shapes and then transferred onto plates.
Photo: Collection
Traditional Cakes
Traditional Cakes are also among the favorite Tet dishes in the South. These cakes are made using molds with attractive colors. The process of making the cakes is very simple, with common ingredients such as flour, baking powder, vegetable oil, and eggs. When eaten, the cakes are soft, fragrant, and small in size, so you won't get tired of them.
Photo: Collection
In a complete Tet feast, the atmosphere of family reunion cannot be complete without the traditional Tet dishes mentioned above. Hopefully, the dishes compiled by Mytour Blog will help you prepare a delicious and beautiful feast, bringing lots of luck and joy to your family.
Explore more articles:
- 20+ Delicious dishes for Tet in Central Vietnam
- 20+ Delicious dishes for Tet in Northern Vietnam
