Bột lọc cake (steamed clear tapioca cake)

This appetizer is quite similar to Nậm cake at first glance, due to its main ingredients and the flavor of the accompanying sweet and spicy sauce.
Photo: beptruong.edu.vn

However, the unique taste of tapioca flour combined with ground pork and the distinct preparation of the shrimp creates a memorable experience. Stuffed with sautéed shrimp and slices of pork belly, these flat, tubular cakes are wrapped in banana leaves and then steamed. After a few minutes, the dough transforms into a pliant, translucent layer, revealing the vibrant pink shrimp inside. For the version without banana leaves, known as clear tapioca cake, the preparation method involves boiling instead of steaming; this gives the cake a chewier texture, albeit with less fragrance than its wrapped counterpart. To enhance the dish, scallion oil, rendered pork fat, and fish sauce tinted with green chilies serve as perfect complements.