Today’s A Journey through Aesthetic Realms will be presented in Aulacese (Vietnamese), with subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Hungarian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Heavenly peach trees are planted among the tangerines and oranges Vines of pumpkin, gourd and cucumbers entwine Carambola, lemon, grapefruit and mangosteen Lanzones, persimmon, plum, rambutan Soursop, jackfruit, mung bean Sapodila, large banana, soybean Coconut, papaya, mango, butternut squash, coffee Chili pepper, mustard green, ginger, saffron, bitter melon

A gold apple falls into an elder lady’s pocket Children sit listening to your singing. Mulberry and durian sit lamenting “O baby jackfruit!” Loving apple banana, pear and pomegranate visit Pineapple and grapes, cassava and peanut Elephant-mango is sour, so is gooseberry Big longan is fragrant, even more so is the apple Lucuma mamosa, sugarcane, corn, wing bean Pepper and cashew bring great wealth Carambola, guava, tamarind are indeed girls’ favorites

A gold apple falls into an elder lady’s pocket Children sit listening to your singing.

Heavenly peach trees are planted among the tangerines and oranges Vines of pumpkin, gourd and cucumbers entwine Carambola, lemon, grapefruit and mangosteen Lanzones, persimmon, plum, rambutan Soursop, jackfruit, mung bean Sapodila, large banana, soybean Coconut, papaya, mango, butternut squash, coffee Chili pepper, mustard green, ginger, saffron, bitter melon

A gold apple falls into an elder lady’s pocket Children sit listening to your singing. Mulberry and durian sit lamenting “O baby jackfruit!” Loving apple banana, pear and pomegranate visit Pineapple and grapes, cassava and peanut Elephant-mango is sour, so is gooseberry Big longan is fragrant, even more so is the apple Lucuma mamosa, sugarcane, corn, wing bean Pepper and cashew bring great wealth Carambola, guava, tamarind are indeed girls’ favorites

A gold apple falls into an elder lady’s pocket Children sit listening to your singing. A gold apple falls into an elder lady’s pocket Children sit listening to your singing.

You’ve just enjoyed the folk song “Fields and Orchards,” with vocal and dance performances by our Association members from southern Âu Lạc (Vietnam). “Fields and Orchards” portrays a lively and colorful picture of the delicious fruits and vegetables that God has lovingly bestowed upon us as food for a gentle and compassionate lifestyle.

Âu Lạc, a beautiful country situated in Southeast Asia, with sub-tropical climate, is graced by Mother Nature with green plants and sweet fruits, all redolent and delectable throughout the four seasons. Depending on the weather conditions and culinary preferences of each region, the local people have skillfully created many savory dishes.

In our program about Aulacese traditional cuisine, we are pleased to introduce the specialty foods of a land known for its freshness and abundance. Indeed, at a public lecture in the United States in March 1991, Supreme Master Ching Hai especially praised the rich natural resources of Âu Lạc.

“Âu Lạc is among the most enriched nations in this world: there are mines of gold, silver, uranium, lead, zinc, and tin. Âu Lạc has everything. There are morals, piety, harmony, and four thousands years of civilization. It is one of the most ancient countries in the world.

Our land has always had abundant foods and fruits. I remember when I was a student there, there was a great variety of fruits when I went to Bình Dương and Long Thành. And rice! Aulacese indigenous rice, called Tám Thơm, is the most famous in Southeast Asia and in the world. There are also other products, dried or fresh, that are most popular in the world.”

We are deeply grateful to Supreme Master Ching Hai for her treasured words and boundless grace for the nation and people of peace-loving Âu Lạc.

Steamed savory rice cupcake, anyone!

Steamed savory rice cake is considered one of the oldest cuisines in Aulacese (Vietnamese) history of mobile food vending. Steamed savory rice cake has two kinds: cupcake and thin cake. Originating in the ancient capital, nowadays steamed savory rice cake has become popular nationwide. In today’s program, we’d like to introduce a food that has followed a vendor’s footsteps to every corner, from the urban to rural areas: the steamed savory rice cake that is very characteristic of Âu Lạc (Vietnam)

. Look! A restaurant, Gentle miss.

Eh!

Oh, I forget... Nobleman.

My surname is Trần. May I know your names?

Ah, my name is... My surname is Hoàng. And this is my....

My surname is Lê. I’m... the attendant of my master here.

It seems you just came from afar?

Oh, yes.

So, you probably don’t know that this restaurant is well-known for its steamed savory rice cupcake?

Really?

The caterer makes the filling all with fresh mushrooms. If I’m not mistaken, they’re straw, peziza and abalone mushrooms.

Wow... You’re very good! We wish to go on a pilgrimage. Could you show us the way?

Oh really? Then we’re going in the same direction.

Ah, that’s great!

Just now, we’re introduced to the steamed savory rice cupcake, with the sauce made of fresh mushrooms, aromatic and nutritious. While the cupcake kind is a bit firm, with thick filling, often used with vegan fish sauce, the thin cake is pliable and soft, with a little sweet and dry stuffing, used with vegan sweet and sour sauce.

Lan, I’m old now. It’s time you learn to make the vegan steamed savory rice cake so that you may take care of yourself later.

I’m also thinking of opening a shop near the pagoda, so that I can easily go there to listen to Buddhist teachings. What do you think?

That’s very good, dear.

Let me show you how to make the thin cake type first. (Yes.) First, we prepare the filling which is mainly made of mung beans and shredded vegan shrimp. To make the filling for four people, you need about 100 grams mung bean and some spring onion. Cook the mung bean well then grind finely; as for spring onion, you just slice finely then stir-fry.

How do we make shredded vegan shrimp, Mom?

It’s easy! We use the firm tofu, squeezed dry. Hand me the cooking oil, vegan seasoning and annatto seed oil.

It’s simple, I see.

Now to make the cake, you need about 200 grams rice flour, 400 grams water, 2 tablespoons corn flour, 2 tablespoons cooking oil, some salt. Mix rice flour, water, corn flour, oil and salt. Stir evenly and close the lid to let the flour rise in about 20 minutes. Prepare a pan of boiling water and the steam basket for me. (Yes.) Place the cups in to be steamed for a few minutes.

I think the flour has risen already, Mom.

Then stir evenly, and pour flour into the cups! The cakes will be ready in about 10 minutes. That’s when they are clear.

The cakes are clear already, Mom!

Now I top the cakes with the filling, some spring onion oil and sprinkle shredded vegan shrimp. When you eat, pour the sweet and sour vegan fish sauce on top.

I know how to make the steamed savory thin rice cake now!

So beautiful!

Here... This is for you as a souvenir.

You’re so kind!

Good morning! We serve vegan steamed savory rice cake here. Come in, please.

Oh, steamed savory rice cake again!?

We serve two kinds: the cupcakes and thin cakes. Which one would you like to enjoy?

Please give us 3 portions of the thin cakes.

We really have affinity with steamed savory rice cake these few days, don’t we?

Oh, no problem, I’m not tired of it yet!

Not bad! But this type of steamed savory rice cake, my mistress here can prepare even more delectably!

We’ve learned about the two kinds of vegan steamed savory rice cakes and have seen the making of the thin cakes. Now, please come and visit a rural area in Âu Lạc to find out the recipe for preparing the cupcake that is full of mushroom flavor, which we were introduced to at the beginning.

Come, come, you can retire now. I’ve shown a young boy how to make the steamed savory rice cake already!

That’s wonderful! But how did you do that?

Now I’ll show you how to make steamed savory rice cupcakes. Let me know if you don’t understand anything.

Yes.

Here I have enough ingredients to prepare cakes for 4 people. We’ll need about 200 grams rice flour, 2 tablespoons corn flour, 2 tablespoons cooking oil, 400 grams water and ½ teaspoon salt. First, you mix the rice flour, corn flour, cooking oil and salt with water. Leave this mixture for about 20 minutes for the flour to rise.

Now, we prepare boiling water in a pot. Put in these small cups to be heated for a couple of minutes. You should stir the mixture evenly, pour it into the cups, then close the lid. Cook for about 10 minutes. When the flour is clear, the cakes are ready. Oh, the cakes are done, dear.

Oh, the clear flour looks so nice!

We also need to prepare some stir-fry green onion to spread on top of the cake. Now let me show you how to make the filling. Mix 3 tablespoons of caltrops flour with 2 cups of water. Then stir-fry this garlic and onion. Then put in 100 grams mushrooms, 2 ears of peziza, 100 grams cassava, all finely chopped, and 1 finely ground carrot.

Now, add in a little vegan seasoning and two tablespoons sugar. Stir-fry until all ingredients are cooked, then pour in this caltrops flour mixture. Stir evenly and cook until the flour becomes clear. The sauce is ready now. Pour it onto the cakes like this. Put a little stir-fried green onion on it. When we eat, we will just pour the vegan fish sauce onto the cake. It’s done. Do you remember it all?

Yes, I remember everything!

Don’t worry, mistress. I’ve already explained to Mr. Trần.

What did you say to him?

I said, “Because her parents didn’t want their daughter to go on a pilgrimage far away, so she had to disguise herself as a nobleman for them to feel at ease and let her go.”

You’ve walked us far enough. Let us bid farewell here.

Take care of yourself! Ah, may I visit your place one day to enjoy a dish of steamed savory rice cake? (Yes...)

Why one dish!? You can come to enjoy several dishes, that’s okay too!

The vegan steamed savory rice cake makes one feel full quickly and brings a feeling of satisfaction. Although the preparation of the cupcake and thin cake are different, they have the same advantage – that is the steamed savory rice cake tastes delicious either hot or cold. Nowadays, many places sell ready- made steamed rice cakes; one just needs to prepare the simple filling and the whole family can enjoy a nutritious and healthy vegan meal.

Thank you for watching our program featuring the Steamed Savory Rice Cake. Please tune in to Supreme Master Television for more on Aulacese specialty food and traditional cuisine in future broadcasts. Coming up is Vegetarianism: The Noble Way of Living, after Noteworthy News. So long for now.