Wrapping Banh Tet with banana leaves and dong leaves are the two most basic ways of wrapping. The soaking time for the ingredients is a bit long but the packaging is very quick. Besides, you should apply the standard way of cooking Banh Tet so that the cake cooks evenly, is soft and can be preserved for a long time during Tet.
1. Prepare and process ingredients for wrapping banh tet
Whatever it is How to wrap Banh Tet made from banana leaves or dong leaves, the filling inside is similar. That’s why first we need to prepare the ingredients and prepare them for wrapping.
1.1. Ingredients for making banh tet
400g sticky rice
200g peeled green beans
1 bunch of peanuts
100g pork belly
Banana leaves or dong leaves
Spices: salt, seasoning, pepper
Tools include scissors, baskets, and large pots
In fact, the filling for banh tet does not need to be traditionally meat-filled banh tet as above. You can vary it according to your preferences and needs such as making banh tet without filling, adding salted eggs or simply changing the pork belly to lean meat if you are losing weight. Depending on the number of packages, calculate the amount of ingredients you need to prepare to suit your family’s needs.
Prepare and process the ingredients before wrapping the cake (Photo: Ngoctt).
After you have prepared all the ingredients, next you need to prepare each type to make the wrapping process more convenient and faster. Note that you should prepare it in advance at night to wrap it in time the next day.
Sticky rice: When buying sticky rice, you need to wash it, remove all bad seeds and soak it in water for about 8 hours. After 8 hours, pour it out, drain the water, then add 4g of salt and mix well so that when the cake is cooked, not only the filling inside but the sticky rice crust on the outside is also rich in flavor.
Green bean: Green beans are also soaked in water but for a shorter time, about 4 hours. Then take it out, drain it and mix it well with a little salt. Cook the beans on the stove over medium heat, when the water boils, cover and cook for about 20 minutes. When it’s soft, turn off the heat, put it in a bowl and mash it.
Bamboo lattice: If you can’t buy pre-split bamboo strips, soak the bamboo tubes in water for about 8 hours to soften them and then split them into long strips. Slice as thinly as possible because soft slices will help you wrap the banh tet firmly, but not too thin so as not to break during cooking.
Dong leaves/banana leaves: Wash gently so as not to tear, then drain.
Pork belly: Wash and then blanch in hot water to kill bacteria if you are careful. Cut the meat into pieces about 10-12cm long and about 2cm wide. Next, marinate the meat with spices such as seasoning and pepper. Can be marinated with onions for aroma.
2. How to wrap banh tet with banana leaves
Before learning how to make banh tet with banana leaves, you need one more step to make the filling. First, divide the green beans into equal parts, spread them out evenly, then add a piece of marinated pork belly. Roll the filling so that the meat is in the middle, forming a cylinder about 12cm. Do the same until all the filling is gone.
Wrap banh tet with banana leaves (Photo: Ngoctt).
How to wrap banh tet with banana leaves quickly in 4 steps:
Step 1: For banana leaves, wipe clean with a towel then cut into pieces about 2 gloves long, arrange 3 leaves alternately on a flat surface.
Step 2: Add the sticky rice and spread it evenly across the width of the leaf. Put the ready-made filling in the middle and add more sticky rice to cover on top.
Step 3: Wrap the two ends of the banana leaf and squeeze tightly so the ingredients stick together.
Step 4: Fold the corner of the cake and then stand it up, using a rubber band to temporarily fix the body. Next, fold the two ends of the cake and then use string to tie it together. You must tie it firmly so that the cake does not come apart during the cooking process. Cut off all excess leaves to make the cake look more beautiful.
3. How to wrap banh tet with dong leaves
For How to wrap Banh Tet using dong leaves, you also need to prepare the filling similar to wrapping banh tet with banana leaves. Purchased dong leaves need to be washed, especially thoroughly washing the concave part of the leaf spine because there is often a lot of dirt stuck here.
Wrap banh tet with dong leaves similar to banana leaves (Photo: Ngoctt).
Step 1: Dry the dong leaves, do not need to cut them, but arrange 3 intact dong leaves interwoven. The larger leaf should be placed in the middle to easily cover the cake.
Step 2: Add the sticky rice and spread it evenly vertically, put the ready-made filling in the middle and then add another layer of sticky rice on top.
Step 3: Hold the two edges of the dong leaf and fold it, roll the cake tightly and then tie bamboo strips to secure the body of the cake. Fold one end of the cake, stand it up so the folds fold down, then fold the other end again.
Step 4: Roll the cake until it’s round and then tie it tightly with your hands, spacing it evenly to make it look nice.
4. The most standard way to cook banh tet
Learned How to wrap Banh Tet Then it’s impossible not to learn how to cook banh tet. It sounds simple, but actually there must be a secret to making the cake cook evenly, be soft, and last a long time. You can apply the following cooking method:
Place a layer of banana leaves on the bottom of the pot and then arrange the cake bars one by one.
Fill the cake with water, boil for 8 hours and especially boil it with a wood stove.
When you see the water is boiling, reduce the heat to medium.
Cook the cake for about 1.5-2 hours, then take it out, turn the cake upside down, and continue boiling until the cake is cooked evenly.
After about 4 hours, take the cake out and wash it with cold water, change the water in the pot, then put the cake rolls in and continue cooking.
You should add hot water regularly to avoid the water drying out and burning the bottom of the pot.
After boiling, take the cake out, wash it with cold water, roll it and dry it. The finished product of Banh Tet is beautiful, evenly cooked, and delicious (Video screenshot).
Can see though How to wrap Banh Tet Using banana leaves or dong leaves, the process is also very quick. Except for having to soak the ingredients for a long time, the time to wrap one cake is probably only about 5 minutes. In return, the finished product is delicious banh tet with the smell of dong and banana leaves, a soft, light green sticky rice shell, and a bean meat filling mixed with rich spices. Learn how to wrap Banh Tet so that you can show off your talents to your parents this Tet!
