Chiles

about 1/2 cup water or fresh coconut water (100 ml) • about 1/2 cup sliced red chili peppers (80 g) • about 1/3 cup diced red bell pepper (60 g) • about 2 tablespoons pineapple, chopped (30 g) • about 2 teaspoons sliced shallots (10 g) • about 2 teaspoons minced garlic (10 g) • about 2 cups water or fresh coconut water (500 ml) • about 1/4 cup granulated sugar (50 g) • about 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder (5 g) • about 3 tablespoons chili sauce (50 g) • about 2 tablespoons ketchup (30 g) (or substitute with about 1/2 cup fresh tomatoes (100 g)) • about 2 tablespoons fish sauce (30 g) •

bird’s eye chilies • lemongrass stalks (about 200 grams) • chili powder • garlic • rice bowl vegetable oil (about 3/4 cup or 180 ml) • sugar • seasoning powder

dark brown sugar (about 25 grams) • garlic • red chili peppers • culantro leaves, chopped • Juice of 1 lime • roasted peanuts, crushed (about 50 grams) • MSG (optional) • water (30 ml) • seasoned salt

Carp, pork belly, galangal, onion, garlic, chili peppers

whole chicken (about 2.2 lbs/1 kg) • Serves about 4 people as a main dish for the day • Finely chopped shallots and garlic, fresh lemongrass, fresh chili peppers, fish sauce, sugar, and MSG

snakehead fish (about 10.5 oz or 300 grams total; price may vary depending on location and season) • Basic seasonings, shallots, chili peppers, black pepper, green onions

whole fish (such as perch, carp, grass carp, or silver carp—use your favorite): • Sugar, turmeric powder, ginger, chili pepper, Vietnamese betel leaves (lá mơ), fish sauce, salt

chicken feet (about 1 kg) • Fish sauce • Sugar • Vinegar • Lemongrass, lime leaves, chili peppers, shallots, culantro, whole milk

large eggs • chili pepper • small shallot • black pepper • fish sauce (15 ml) • chili sauce (15 ml) • MSG (optional) (about 4 grams) • sugar (about 6 grams) • water (30 ml)

Soy sauce • Oyster sauce, sesame oil • Vinegar • Water • Annatto oil (for color) • garlic • fresh chili peppers • Crushed dried chili • Green onions • Cilantro • Sugar, salt

Catfish (preferably pangasius or basa) • Garlic cloves, shallots, green onions, red chili peppers • Black pepper, fish sauce, chicken bouillon powder, MSG, sugar, chili powder

Tuna, pineapple, tomatoes, lemongrass stalks, shallots, garlic, lemongrass chili paste, rice noodles, vegetables: banana blossom, bean sprouts, water spinach, lettuce, green onions, chili peppers, cilantro (optional) • Fish sauce, sugar, MSG, seasoning powder, salt, pepper

Rice noodle sheets, carrot, cucumber, Vietnamese pork sausage (giò lụa), lettuce, pineapple • Pork belly, chili pepper, garlic, lime (or calamansi), fish sauce, sugar, water

Snakehead fish • chili peppers • okra • luffa (sponge gourd)

fish sauce (100ml) • rock sugar (100g) • apple cider vinegar (25ml) • garlic • chili peppers • green bird’s eye chilies (30-40g) • granulated sugar (50g) • salt (20g) • sweetened condensed milk (80g) • fresh lime juice (100ml) • young lime leaves • MSG (optional)

salt (about 50 grams) • sugar (about 350 grams) • MSG • fresh lime juice (about 100 ml) • Thai chili peppers (add more if you like it spicier) • red chili peppers

Beef tendon, beef sirloin • Star anise, cinnamon stick, pho spice mix • Yellow onion, shallots, ginger, salt, rock sugar • Rice noodles (banh pho), bean sprouts, green onions, Thai basil, chili peppers for serving

dumplings (about 300 g; I used pork and cheese dumplings) • water (about 300 ml, or more as needed for boiling the dumplings) • fried shallots in oil (about 2 shallots) • ketchup • chili sauce • fish sauce • sugar • seasoning powder • MSG (optional) • water (about 300 ml) • cornstarch (add when the sauce is hot) • Korean chili flakes •

catfish (500 g) • ginger, 2 shallots, 1 head garlic, 2 dried chili peppers, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 small bunch fresh green peppercorns • Oyster sauce, soy sauce, caramel sauce (nước hàng), sugar

Pork chops and pork belly (I had a little leftover pork belly, so I marinated it together) • Turmeric powder • Garlic cloves, ginger, shallots, chili peppers • Seasonings: honey, sugar, salt, chicken bouillon powder, black pepper

catfish (basa or pangasius fillet) • Tomatoes, pineapple, taro stem, bean sprouts, okra, tamarind paste, onion, chili pepper • Seasonings: oyster sauce, caramel sauce, fish sauce, black pepper, sugar

chicken breasts (from 1 chicken) • mild chili peppers • heaping tablespoon coarse salt • Cabbage for pickling • Make lime chili salt for dipping

basa fish (about 500 grams) • white parts of green onions • red chili peppers • hot water (50 ml) • sugar • cooking oil • ground pepper • seasoning powder • fish sauce • salt

large mango, preferably very sour • white sugar • fish sauce (any brand) • Tay Ninh chili salt, or any other type • chili peppers, adjust to taste • plastic container with a lid, or any container suitable for shaking

Crawfish • chili peppers

Pork hock • Carrots • Potatoes • Cabbage (use as much or as little as you like) • Seasonings: MSG, bouillon powder, salt, fish sauce, sugar, black pepper, chili pepper, green onions, cilantro

mackerel (about 1 kg) • (about 2 2/3 cups or 400 grams) rice flour or all-purpose flour • Vietnamese coriander (rau ram) • Green onions • Cilantro • Lime • Chili peppers • Shallots (small Vietnamese shallots if available) • Red onions • Vegetable oil • Chicken bouillon powder or seasoning powder • Fish sauce •

basa fish, pre-cut • broccoli • pineapple, pre-cut • carrot • gourd (opo squash) • cabbage • green onions • fresh coconut water • Chili peppers, garlic • coconut caramel sauce • fish sauce • sugar •

salmon (about 9–10.5 oz or 250–300 grams) • salt • vegetable oil • shallots • –5 chili peppers • fish sauce • light brown sugar • fresh coconut water or water (about 60 ml) • ground black pepper • green onion

Grass carp: 2.2 lbs (1 kg) (I used home-raised fish with firm, delicious meat) • galangal root, medium size, about 7 oz (200 g) • ginger • pork belly • Fish sauce, seasoned salt, black pepper, sugar, shallots, scallions • Fresh chili pepper, 1 small stalk lemongrass, cooking oil