Rice, one of the most popular foods in the world, can be processed into many different delicious dishes.  The Taste Atlas website has listed 100 of the world's most delicious dishes from rice, including four from Vietnam.

The website, dubbed the "world culinary map”, has announced the list of 100 most delicious dishes made from rice in 2023. Vietnam has four on the list: com tam (broken rice), banh tet (sticky rice cakes with mung bean or pork), banh beo (Vietnamese steamed savory rice cake) and Vietnamese xoi (sticky rice).

The list also has other cuisines such as Samgak Gimbap (Korea), Sushi (Japan), Paella (Spain), Risotto (Italy), Biryani (Iran), Arroz-rojo (Mexico), Rainbow Roll (USA), Nasi Pecel (Indonesia) and Khao Phat (Thailand).

According to Taste Atlas, com tam is a traditional Vietnamese dish that's typically sold as street food. It consists of broken and imperfect rice grains that were traditionally chucked away after the milling process, but is now a signature dish of Ho Chi Minh City.

Broken rice has a texture that's similar to normal rice, just smaller. When served, com tam is accompanied by numerous toppings such as fried eggs, shredded pork skin, grilled pork chops or deep-fried fish patties. The usual garnishes include lime wedges, chopped spring onions, and mint, while accompaniments served on the side include sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, pickled vegetables, or dipping sauces.

Banh tet is a South Vietnamese specialty, a sticky rice cake that can be either savory or sweet. It is made from glutinous rice stuffed with a mung bean or pork filling and wrapped in a banana leaf. The whole concoction is then boiled or steamed, the banana leaf is removed, and the log-shaped cake is sliced into cylindrical pieces.

Banana leaves are used because they impart a unique aroma and flavor to the rice, reminiscent of tea. The cake is often wrapped in plastic with a red or gold ribbon tied around it in order to make Banh tet look more festive, because it is traditionally prepared and served for the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration.

Banh beo is a popular Vietnamese steamed cake consisting of key ingredients such as rice flour, fish sauce with green chili peppers, and either shrimp or pork. 

Additionally, noodles, roasted peanuts or fried onions can be added to the cake in order to improve its flavor. Apart from savory cakes, there are also sweet versions which are almost exclusively available in Hoi An. 

Banh beo is traditionally served in a porcelain bowl with a bamboo spoon for consumption. Some people refer to it as the Vietnamese version of tapas, and it is believed that the most important characteristic of a good Banh beo is an indentation in its center which is used for holding the flavorful, savory stuffings.

With as many versions as one can imagine, sticky rice (Xoi) is one of Vietnam's favorite foods that is easily found anywhere from numerous roadside vendors to traditional and upscale restaurants. Made with a base of steamed sticky rice, these dishes can be savory - Xoi man, or sweet - Xoi ngot.

They are traditionally served in a banana leaf, and most commonly enjoyed either as a cheap and scrumptious on-the-go breakfast meal, a mid-day snack or a dessert, although in many mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, people eat Xoi as a main dish.

Thuy Chi