Have you ever heard about a type of rice which is green, sweet and sticky? It is Vietnamese green rice or “cốm” in Vietnamese. Vietnamese green rice refers to young, tender, and green rice grains that are harvested before they fully mature. Its green color and sweet, nutty flavor make it a popular ingredient in various Vietnamese dishes. Let me introduce you a recipe with Vietnamese Green Rice: Vietnamese Green Rice Meatballs, in which breadcrumb is replaced by green rice.
What is Vietnamese Green Rice (Cốm)?
“Cốm” is a culinary gem in Hanoi, Vietnam, popular for its unique characteristics and deep cultural significance. It is always in the must-try food list for every tourists in Hanoi. It is considered a seasonal delicacy in Vietnam, often enjoyed during the autumn months when the rice is harvested.
Vietnamese Green rice is made from unripe, green rice grains. These grains are then roasted and flattened, resulting in a distinctive and fragrant rice product that is slightly sticky and has a unique taste. There is a village in Hanoi reputable for this unique ingredient, Vong Village or “Làng Vòng”. It is renowned for cultivating the finest green rice in all of Vietnam.
Nowadays, Vietnamese Green Rice is preserved in two types, fresh and dried green rice. When you visit Hanoi, you definitely must try fresh green rice wrapped in lotus leaves. For longer preservation, they dried green rice, and it became a unique and delicate ingredient for many recipes, from mixing with other ingredients to using as a creative breadcrumb to make crispy fried dishes.
Ingredients for Vietnamese Green Rice Meatballs
This is a very simple recipe with only 2 main ingredients, Vietnamese green rice and mince pork. You will need:
- 200g (7 oz) minced pork: Opt for the minced pork mixing fat and protein so the meatballs will be more juicy.
- 100g (3.5 oz) Vietnamese Green rice: The essence of the dish, it provides a unique nutty flavor and a slightly chewy texture. You can buy it Vietnamese markets or specialty Asian food stores. Some online retailers may also offer it.
- 1 shallot, minced: These aromatic elements enhance the overall flavor profile and add depth to the meatballs.
- 1/2 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper: Adds a salty, subtle, spicy note that complements the other flavors.
- 1/2 tsp vegetable oil: Avoids stickness to your hands and between each meatball.
Instruction
With a basic ingredient list, the cooking process of this dish is also simple. The total time to make Vietnamese Green Rice Meatballs are 20 minutes.
Preparation
Firstly, soak half of the green rice (50g or 1.7oz) in water and chop some shallots. I typically chop several cups of shallots and freeze them. Whenever I need chopped or minced shallots for a recipe, I simply take a bit from the freezer to use.
Shaping Meatballs
After soaking for 5 minutes, drain the rice to remove excess water. Mix the soaked green rice, minced pork, shallots, salt, pepper, and vegetable oil together. Ensure that they are evenly mixed.
Prepare a plate with a bit of oil on it. Coat your hands or disposable gloves with oil before shaping the meatballs. Then, roll the mixture between your hands into balls and flatten them slightly. You can adjust the size based on your preference. Continue rolling until you’ve shaped all the mixture into balls.
You still have another half of the green rice, it will be the “breadcrumb” for your meatballs. Coat each meatball with green rice flakes.
Heat the oil in a pan and begin frying them. Deep-frying will result in crispier meatballs thanks to fried green rice flakes.
Once the meatballs are cooked, rest them on oil absorbent tissue to reduce the redundant oil.
How to serve Vietnamese Green Rice Meatballs
A cool dish is ready for you to serve with a vibrant green color outside and a juicy, soft and sweet meat mixture inside. You can either eat it as a side dish or eat with cooked jasmine rice and vegetables. For dipping sauce, sweet chilli sauce, fish sauce, ketchup or siracha are all matched, feel free to choose your favorite sauce.
Vietnamese Green Rice Meatballs
This post will introduce you a recipe with Vietnamese Green Rice or Cốm: Vietnamese Green Rice Meat Balls.
Ingredients
- 200g (7 oz) minced pork
- 100g (3.5 oz) Vietnamese Green rice
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp vegetable oil
Instructions
Step 1. Preparation.
- Firstly, soak half of the green rice (50g or 1.7oz) in water and chop some shallots. I typically chop several cups of shallots and freeze them. Whenever I need chopped or minced shallots for a recipe, I simply take a bit from the freezer to use.
Step 2. Shaping Meatballs
- After soaking for 5 minutes, drain the rice to remove excess water. Mix the soaked green rice, minced pork, shallots, salt, pepper, and vegetable oil together. Ensure that they are evenly mixed.
- Prepare a plate with a bit of oil on it. Coat your hands or disposable gloves with oil before shaping the meatballs. Then, roll the mixture between your hands into balls and flatten them slightly. You can adjust the size based on your preference. Continue rolling until you've shaped all the mixture into balls.
- You still have another half of the green rice. Now, coat each meatball with green rice flakes.
Step 3. Frying
- Heat the oil in a pan and begin frying them. Deep-frying will result in crispier meatballs thanks to fried green rice flakes.
- Once the meatballs are cooked, rest them on oil absorbent tissue to reduce the redundant oil.
Step 4. Serving
- You can either eat it as a side dish or eat with cooked jasmine rice and vegetables. For dipping sauce, sweet chilli sauce, fish sauce, ketchup or siracha are all matched, feel free to choose your favorite sauce.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 423
