Pan-Fried Rice Flour Crepes with Shrimp and Bean Sprouts
Delicate Vietnamese banh xeo crepes made from rice flour and turmeric, filled with sautéed shrimp, bean sprouts, and herbs, pan-fried until crisp and golden. This vietnamese-inspired seafood ready in about 45 minutes pairs rice flour, turmeric powder, coconut milk for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice flour
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 8 oz small shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 8 leaves lettuce leaves
- 1/2 cup (prepared separately) nuoc cham dipping sauce
Instructions
- Step 1: In a mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup rice flour, 1 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup coconut milk, and 1/2 cup water until smooth and slightly thin; stir in 2 chopped green onions and let batter rest for 15 minutes.
- Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; add half of 8 oz shrimp and sauté for 2-3 minutes until pink and cooked through, then push shrimp to one side of the pan.
- Step 3: Pour about 1/3 cup of the batter into the skillet, swirling to coat the bottom thinly and evenly; cook until edges start to crisp and bubble, about 2 minutes.
- Step 4: Scatter 1/2 cup bean sprouts over the crepe and fold it gently in half; cook for another 1 minute to warm the sprouts and finish crisping the crepe.
- Step 5: Slide the crepe onto a plate and repeat with remaining oil, shrimp, batter, and bean sprouts to make 3 more crepes.
- Step 6: Serve the banh xeo with fresh mint, cilantro, and lettuce leaves alongside 1/2 cup nuoc cham dipping sauce for wrapping and dipping.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Pan-Fried Rice Flour Crepes with Shrimp and Bean Sprouts take to make?
Total time is about 45 minutes (25 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Pan-Fried Rice Flour Crepes with Shrimp and Bean Sprouts?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep rice flour from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Pan-Fried Rice Flour Crepes with Shrimp and Bean Sprouts?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Pan-Fried Rice Flour Crepes with Shrimp and Bean Sprouts for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Pan-Fried Rice Flour Crepes with Shrimp and Bean Sprouts?
Vietnamese seafood like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.