Before we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Lisa had hired a housekeeper. Priorities. Nhung (pronounced Nume) is a wonderful 19 year old Vietnamese woman. Her family lives in HCMC and Nhung has worked since she was 15 to help provide for her parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews. She is a smart young woman, who speaks English very well, works hard, and is eager to please.
Lisa and Nhung have been learning from each other in the kitchen. Nhung made her first ever batch of cookies last week! The equipment and the method is all new to her as well as the idea of using a recipe.
Then, with Nhung's guidance, Lisa made her first ever Vietnamese meal, called "fry noodle". Yes, that is what it is called by the Vietnamese. It is mostly a stir fry using peppers, carrots, onions, cai ngot ("sweet cabbage" similar to bok choy), green onion, and lots of garlic (11 cloves in this dish!).
Vietnamese cooking uses simple ingredients purchased fresh every morning, and basic spices (garlic, salt, "pork powder"). Only a little bit of meat is used in order to flavour the dish. Lisa was surprised at how many bowls/ dishes are used; the method of putting the stir fry together is very precise, using ingredients in a certain order and then removing from the pan to add the next ingredient. Only at the very end are all of the vegetables, meat, and noodles combined. And it is delicious!
Then, with Nhung's guidance, Lisa made her first ever Vietnamese meal, called "fry noodle". Yes, that is what it is called by the Vietnamese. It is mostly a stir fry using peppers, carrots, onions, cai ngot ("sweet cabbage" similar to bok choy), green onion, and lots of garlic (11 cloves in this dish!).
Vietnamese cooking uses simple ingredients purchased fresh every morning, and basic spices (garlic, salt, "pork powder"). Only a little bit of meat is used in order to flavour the dish. Lisa was surprised at how many bowls/ dishes are used; the method of putting the stir fry together is very precise, using ingredients in a certain order and then removing from the pan to add the next ingredient. Only at the very end are all of the vegetables, meat, and noodles combined. And it is delicious!