Bánh tét - The Taste of Togetherness

Name: Bánh tét - The Taste of Togetherness
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 1/2 lbs glutinous rice (2 kg); 20 ripe Siamese bananas; 3 1/3 cups coconut milk (800 ml); 1 teaspoon rice wine; Salt, sugar; Banana leaves, kitchen twine

Chân Chân ( Nhược Tư ) @cook_4943957

Every time a family memorial or Tet approaches, I get excited just thinking about the aroma wafting from the pot of bánh tét. Everyone gathers together, hands working in rhythm to wrap the cakes while sharing stories of joys and sorrows. We stay up all night waiting for morning, eager to taste the first slice in the chilly air, warming our hands in the fresh scent of banana leaves. Somehow, without planning, everyone comes together—it's the magic this cake brings. I remember once, while waiting for the cakes, he said: "No matter how life changes, if I want to find you on these days, I just follow the scent of the steaming cakes." I laughed. He was right. Every year, I need a few nights with this warm, comforting flavor to feel at peace.

Chân Chân ( Nhược Tư ) @cook_4943957

Saved

Ingredients

4 1/2 lbsglutinous rice (2 kg)
20ripe Siamese bananas
3 1/3 cupscoconut milk (800 ml)
1 teaspoonrice wine
Salt, sugar
Banana leaves, kitchen twine

Saved

Steps

1

Soak the glutinous rice for about 1 hour. Drain in a colander lined with a thin cloth to remove excess water and let the rice dry completely.
2

Peel the bananas and slice them in half lengthwise. Marinate with sugar and rice wine for about 3 hours.
3

Pour the coconut milk into a large pan. Season with salt and sugar to taste, then add the rice. Stir-fry for about 15 minutes until the rice absorbs the coconut milk and becomes sticky (I usually do this in two batches).
4

Lay out the banana leaves, spread the rice, and place the bananas in the center. Wrapping the cake is a bit tricky, so you can look up wrapping techniques on YouTube or use your family's traditional method.
5

Enjoy!
6
7