Living far from home, sometimes a simple Vietnamese meal is enough to warm the heart. But amidst a busy schedule in the US, you don't always have time for elaborate cooking. Therefore, Vietnamese recipes that are quick, simple, and easy to make become the perfect choice for every family.

With easily sourced and fresh ingredients from VeeFood, you can buy everything necessary online and immediately cook familiar dishes in just 30 minutes. Let's explore 5 super simple yet authentic Vietnamese dishes right now.

1. Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Fish Soup (Canh Chua Cá Basa) – Refreshing and Easy to Cook

One of the easiest Vietnamese recipes to make is sweet and sour fish soup (Canh chua cá basa). You only need basa fish, tomatoes, pineapple, bean sprouts, and tamarind to complete the dish in 20–25 minutes.

Quick Cooking Method:

1. Rinse the basa fish, cut into pieces, and lightly season with salt and pepper for 10 minutes to let the fish absorb the flavor.

2. Sauté shallots and garlic until fragrant, then add tomatoes and stir-fry to create color.

3. Add water to the pot, bring to a boil, then add tamarind pulp or tamarind paste.

4. When the water boils again, drop the basa fish in, and cook for 5-7 minutes until the fish is tender.

5. Add pineapple, okra, elephant ear stalks (bạc hà), and bean sprouts, and cook for another 2–3 minutes.

6. Season with fish sauce, sugar, and a little chili according to taste.

7. Turn off the heat, add rice paddy herb (ngò om) and saw-leaf herb (ngò gai) to the top.

Ingredients for this Vietnamese recipe, such as basa fish, vegetables, and spices, are all easily sourced at Vietnamese markets in the US or ordered via VeeFood:

• Knorr Tamarind Flavor Seasoning Powder 40g x5
  
• Thien Huong 5 Pack Seasoning Salt 195g
  
• Knorr Tamarind Flavor Seasoning Powder 40g 

Canh Chua Cá Basa (Sweet and Sour Fish Soup) with Authentic Vietnamese Flavor

2. Minced Pork Omelet (Trứng Chiên Thịt Băm) – The National Home Meal

This dish is extremely fast to make; a hot meal is ready in just 10 minutes. The minced pork omelet is fragrant and rich in flavor, especially suitable for days when you don't want to spend too much time in the kitchen.

Method:

1. Mix the eggs with minced pork, green onions, fish sauce, and pepper.

2. Whisk the mixture well until the eggs are slightly frothy.

3. Heat a pan, add a little oil, and pour in the egg mixture.

4. Fry over medium heat until the bottom is golden, then flip to the other side.

5. When both sides are golden brown, turn off the heat and cut into bite-sized pieces.

This Vietnamese recipe uses simple ingredients that you can easily find in any grocery store or Vietnamese-American market.

Easy-to-make Minced Pork Omelet at Home

3. Crab Noodle Soup (Bún Riêu Cua) from Canned Crab – Quick Yet Authentic

When mentioning Vietnamese cuisine, Bún Riêu Cua (Vietnamese Crab Noodle Soup) is always a dish that anyone living far from home remembers. However, the traditional process of grinding fresh crab is quite time-consuming. Therefore, canned crab is a convenient choice, helping you cook Bún Riêu Cua quickly while retaining the characteristic flavor of the dish.

Method:

1. Open the canned crab, take the crab meat and crab liquid, and put them into a pot.

2. Add more water to create enough broth for the family.

3. Bring to a gentle boil and skim off the foam to clarify the broth.

4. The crab meat will form large clumps; gently scoop the "riêu" (crab paste) into a separate bowl.

5. Sauté tomatoes with a little oil and shrimp paste (mắm tôm) until fragrant, then add them to the crab broth pot.

6. Season with fish sauce, sugar, and vinegar for a light sour taste.

7. Return the crab paste to the pot, and simmer for another 2-3 minutes.

8. Blanch the vermicelli, add onions and fresh herbs, and pour the hot crab broth over it to complete the dish.

In the US, canned crab and dried vermicelli are easily purchased ingredients, especially when ordered online from VeeFood:

• CT Choice Crab Concentrate 250g
  
• Phuoc Loc Tho Fresh Rice Vermicelli Combo 2 Pack
  

Appealing Bún Riêu Cua (Crab Noodle Soup) with Many Nutritious Ingredients

4. Shredded Chicken Salad (Goi Ga Xe Phay) – Light Yet Nutritious

If you want a change of pace with a lighter dish, shredded chicken salad (Goi ga xe phay) is an ideal choice. This Vietnamese recipe is especially suitable for hot days, or when you want a "healthy" dish that is still packed with flavor.

Method:

1. Boil or prepare pre-cooked chicken breast, and shred it into bite-sized pieces.

2. Slice the cabbage very thinly to make the salad crispy and absorb the dressing.

3. Slice the onion and soak it in ice water to reduce its pungent taste.

4. Prepare the dressing: mix fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, garlic, and chili for a lightly sweet and sour flavor.

5. Mix all ingredients: shredded chicken, cabbage, onion, and Vietnamese coriander (rau ram).

6. Pour the dressing over the ingredients, toss well, and let it sit for 5 minutes to absorb the flavor before serving.

Fresh ingredients like cabbage, Vietnamese coriander (rau ram), and onions are usually available at VeeFood and CT Produce, places that sell many familiar items for Vietnamese people.

Shredded Chicken Salad (Gỏi Gà Xé Phay) is Easy to Make at Home

5. Quick Pho from Bottled Broth – Convenient for Busy People

Pho is the icon of Vietnamese cuisine, but cooking the broth from bones takes a lot of time. The fastest solution is to use high-quality bottled pho broth or instant pho.

Method:

1. Heat the bottled pho broth until it gently boils.

2. Blanch the pho noodles in boiling water until the strands are soft and loose.

3. Place the pho noodles in a bowl, arranging thinly sliced beef on top.

4. Pour the very hot broth over the beef to lightly cook it (re-cook).

5. Add green onions, sliced onions, herbs, and pepper.

6. You can add lime, chili sauce, or hoisin sauce according to taste.

Pho noodles, beef, and Anh Hai Pho Seasoning Powder 25g x20 Packets can all be purchased at Vietnamese-American markets, Asian supermarkets, or ordered online from VeeFood.

Pho is a Traditional Vietnamese Dish

These simple Vietnamese recipes not only help you save time but also preserve the full flavor of your homeland amidst the busy life in the US. With just a few familiar ingredients, you can bring the entire Vietnamese kitchen back into every meal.

And to make cooking even more convenient, you can find all the fresh and delicious ingredients at VeeFood – the platform that supports quick and easy online purchasing, helping Vietnamese meals always be ready every day.

We wish you many warm and flavorful meals!