Street Sweets: Ban Ran

Street Sweets: Ban Ran

By Aly Abaquin

For only 1,000 vnd .05 cents practically FREE SWEETS !!!

This Ban ran as the locals calls it is a deep-fried glutinous rice ball from northern Vietnamese cuisine. The bánh means “cake” and rán means “fried.” Its sold practically on the side streets and it’s a way to taste Vietnam Street Sweets that is if your adventurous.

The  outer shell is made from glutinous rice flour, and covered all over with white sesame seeds and poured over with a transparent glassy sugary syrupy goodness. Molding its shape glistening in bright sunny day.

Enticingly YUMMY as you eater outer was tempted to try one day! Sugary Sticky but finger licking good.

As I told my foreigner friends to try one and we did tried 10 pieces good for that afternoon Tea.

This unconventional doughnut that is filled with sweetened mung bean paste, and scented with jasmine flower essence. Making every bite crunchily sweet and boy is it heavy in the stomach so take a hot jasmine tea or Lemon Tea to balance it off.

Bánh rán is very similar to a Chinese fried glutinous rice ball called zin dou or “Buchi“ which is a standard pastry in Cantonese cuisine.

The Chinese version is generally slightly sweeter and uses fillings such as lotus paste or black bean paste and the shape is rounded and full of sesame seeds.

This pastry surely puts your afternoon delights in place. So sticky delicious. Topped of with vanilla and make it ala mode. Great idea right!!!