25 Vietnamese Recipes That Are Perfect For Summer
Here is my collection of the best Vietnamese recipes to make during hot summer months. Each recipe incorporates fresh ingredients like vegetables, herbs and lean proteins to help you stay healthy, hydrated and energized.
Summer can be unbearably hot in Vietnam, so people often prefer lightly cooked or lightly seasoned dishes. Nothing too salty, fatty or oily to keep things light, fresh and easy to digest during this time of the year. Foods or methods that minimize heat in cooking are also prioritized.
This collection aims to help you put together a Vietnamese family dinner quickly and effortlessly whether you are looking for a simple summer meal or a more elaborate one. Spend more time enjoying the food and less time in the kitchen.
Noodle Bowls
Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad (Bรบn Bรฒ Nam Bแป/Bรบn Bรฒ Xร o) – Rice vermicelli noodles are topped with stir-fried beef, fresh herbs, lettuce, cucumbers and roasted peanuts, then drizzled with a tangy fish sauce dressing. This beloved street food of Hanoi is a perfect combination of savory and refreshing flavors.
Lemongrass Pork Noodle Salad (Bรบn Thแปt Xร o) – Quite similar to the beef version, this dish features lemongrass pork and bean sprouts stir-fry served over vermicelli noodles with fresh herbs and vegetables. This dish can be found in the Southern part of Vietnam.
Bรบn Chแบฃ (Hanoi Grilled Meatballs with Vermicelli Noodles) – The combination of smoky, savory meat with fresh herbs and noodles makes bรบn chแบฃ a perfect, refreshing meal for hot summer days. This dish is a favorite of many people in Hanoi.
Lemongrass Grilled Fish with Noodles – Fish chunks are marinated with lemongrass and other aromatics, then grilled until fragrant. Enjoy it with rice vermicelli noodles, lettuce and a lot of refreshing herbs.
Light Sides and Salads
Gแปi Cuแปn (Vietnamese Summer Rolls) – These classic summer rolls are filled with shrimp, pork, vermicelli noodles, and herbs, all wrapped in rice paper, and served with a peanut dipping sauce. They are light, refreshing, and perfect for a hot day.
Super Easy Carrot Salad – This carrot salad is crunchy, sweet, and tangy, making it an excellent side dish for summer. The salad uses a simple Vietnamese rice vinegar based dressing to brighten it up.
Grilled Corn with Scallion Oil (Bแบฏp Nฦฐแปng Mแปก Hร nh) – Enjoy sweet corn in Vietnamese style with this recipe. Corn on the cob is grilled and then brushed with fragrant scallion oil.
Grilled Eggplant with Scallion Oil (Cร Tรญm Nฦฐแปng Mแปก Hร nh) – Simply leave whole eggplants on the grill until very tender, then scoop out the creamy flesh and top with plenty of scallion oil and roasted peanuts.
Fried Tofu with Scallions (ฤแบญu Rรกn Tแบฉm Hร nh) – This is a staple in the daily rotation of many Northern Vietnamese families due to its simplicity and deliciousness. Tofu cubes are fried until golden and crispy, then dipped into a flavorful mixture of scallions and fish sauce.
Bรฒ Tรกi Chanh (Vietnamese Cured Beef in Lime Juice Salad) – Enjoy this unique and refreshing beef dish of Vietnamese cuisine with a cold beverage. Seared beef is sliced, then marinated in lime juice and served with fresh herbs, carrots, onions and roasted peanuts.
Green Mango Salad with Seafood (Gแปi Xoร i Xanh) – Julienned green mango is mixed with shrimp and squid, fresh herbs, roasted peanuts, and a zesty dressing. This salad is very popular in the Central and Southern regions of Vietnam where it is hot all year round.
Tofu and Cucumber Salad – This light salad features sliced cucumbers and fried tofu dressed in a simple dressing. Add some cherry tomatoes and refreshing herbs for more colors, juiciness and freshness.
Steamed Clams with Lemongrass and Thai Basil – The briny flavor of clams is complemented so well by the fragrance of lemongrass and Thai basil. This dish takes just 10 minutes to make.
Main Dishes
Steamed Fish with Ginger, Scallion and Soy Sauce – Here is a great way to cook white-fleshed fish fillets or salmon fillets. The fish is gently steamed to retain its moist and tender texture. This simple yet elegant dish will make your summer dinner feel like a restaurant-quality meal.
Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs (Sฦฐแปn Xร o Chua Ngแปt) – This dish is our childhood favorite, featuring tender pork ribs in a mouthwatering sweet and savory sauce. The flavor combination stimulates the appetite, making it a great summer main dish.
Fried Fish with Green Mango Salad (Cรก Chiรชn Mแบฏm Xoร i) – A humble dish of Southern Vietnamese cuisine, fried fish is served with a tangy green mango salad. The salad, made with julienned green mango, adds a refreshing and slightly sour contrast to the savory, crispy fish.
Hanoi Beef Fried Rice with Pickled Mustard Greens (Cฦกm Rang Dฦฐa Bรฒ) – This fried rice is like comfort food of people in Hanoi. Fried rice is mixed with stir-fried beef and pickled mustard greens, creating a balance of savory, tangy and hearty flavors.
Vietnamese Chicken Rice (Cฦกm Gร Hแปi An) – This is a signature dish from the historic town of Hoi An. It features fragrant rice served alongside a shredded chicken salad, which is tossed with refreshing Vietnamese coriander and onions.
Soups
Sour Shrimp Soup (Canh Chua Tรดm) – This refreshing and aromatic soup is perfect for hot summer days. Made with succulent shrimp, tamarind paste, pineapple, and a variety of fresh vegetables, it offers a balance of sweet, sour, and savory tastes.
Tomato Beef Soup with Vietnamese Coriander (Canh Bรฒ Rau Rฤm) – This refreshing soup of Hanoi features tender beef simmered with ripe tomatoes and fragrant Vietnamese coriander. The tomatoes add a refreshing acidity that balances the savory beef, while the Vietnamese coriander imparts a unique, fragrant flavor.
Desserts and Drinks
Vietnamese Sweet Corn Pudding (Chรจ Bแบฏp) – This rich dessert highlights the natural sweetness of the corn. Enjoy it with a generous drizzle of coconut milk. I included two different variations of this dessert in the post.
Lotus Seed Sweet Soup with Dried Longan – This is a traditional Vietnamese dessert known for its cooling and calming properties. The sweet soup combines tender lotus seeds with dried longan, creating a delicate and subtly sweet flavor profile.
Yogurt Black Sticky Rice Pudding (Sแปฏa Chua Nแบฟp Cแบฉm) – This classic Vietnamese dessert combines creamy yogurt with soft-chewy black sticky rice. It is so fun to eat with a delightful mix of textures and flavors in each bite.
Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Cafe Sแปฏa ฤรก) – Discover the best method for a bright, refreshing, and aromatic glass of Vietnamese iced coffee at home. Yes, it’s strong, dark-roasted Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk served over ice – but there’s a way to bring out the flavors much more.
Strawberry Iced Tea – This Vietnamese version of strawberry iced tea has a unique and interesting preparation method. The drink is made by combining cold brew tea with macerated strawberries, which have been mixed with sugar to release their natural juices. The result is a sweet, refreshing and fruity beverage perfect for hot days.
