Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of Vietnamese rice cracker or cake: "bánh phồng" refers to a thin, crispy, and often puffed snack or side dish made primarily from glutinous rice. It is typically round, white, or lightly colored, and expands dramatically when heated.
   • A puffed pastry or fritter (in some contexts): In certain culinary references, particularly historical or regional, it can also describe a light, puffed, fried dough item.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Mẹ tôi mua bánh phồng về để ăn kèm với bánh xèo. (My mother bought bánh phồng to eat with Vietnamese sizzling pancakes.)
  • Bánh phồng nướng lên sẽ nở to và giòn tan. (When grilled, bánh phồng puffs up and becomes very crispy.)

Advanced Usage

• "bánh phồng tôm": shrimp crackers; a common variant where the rice cracker is flavored or topped with shrimp.
  • Nhà hàng phục vụ bánh phồng tôm như món khai vị. (The restaurant serves shrimp crackers as an appetizer.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bánh đa: rice paper; a related but different item, often used for spring rolls, which is thinner and not pre-puffed.
• Bánh tráng: another term for rice paper; can sometimes be grilled to make a similar crispy snack.
• Bánh phồng tôm: as mentioned, specifically shrimp-flavored or shrimp-topped rice crackers.

Synonyms

• Rice cracker: a general English term for a crispy snack made from rice.
• Prawn cracker (specifically for shrimp-flavored versions): a common term in English for similar Asian snacks.
• Soufflé (in a specific, dated culinary context): reflects the "puffed" characteristic from some historical translations.

Related Phrases

• Nướng bánh phồng: to grill/toast .
  • Chúng tôi thích nướng bánh phồng trên bếp than. (We like to grill bánh phồng over a charcoal stove.)
• Bánh phồng nở: puffed ; describes the state after it has been heated and expanded.
  • Đợi cho bánh phồng nở hết rồi hãy lấy ra. (Wait until the bánh phồng is fully puffed before taking it out.)

noun

1. Glutinous rice chupatty