Xôi Gấc

Xôi gấc is a sticky rice specialty in Vietnam that utilizes gac fruit to create a vibrant red color.

Lastest Updated May 27, 2024
Verified by A-Z Cuisines Team
  • Street Food
  • Traditional
Home » Dishes A-Z » Xôi Gấc

Fact: Xôi gấc is often featured in Vietnamese Tet celebrations as it’s believed to bring good fortune.

Basic Information

Xôi Gấc: Basic Information

Pronunciation

/soy gahk/

Alternative Name(s)

No

Dish Type

Glutinous rice dishes

Course

Main course

Mealtime

Breakfast

Popular Variations

No
Origin and Region

Xôi Gấc: Origin and Region

Origin

Vietnam

Continent’s Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

Nationwide Origin

Associated Region

Unspecified
Vietnam Map
Ingredients and Preparation

Xôi Gấc: Ingredients and Preparation

Main Ingredients

Glutinous rice, gac fruit (spiny bitter gourd)

Main Cooking Method

Steaming

Preparation Process

Soak and mix the glutinous rice with gac fruit before steaming it
A Deep Dive

Xôi Gấc: A Deep Dive

Cultural Significance

A common treat during the Vietnamese Tet celebration

Taste

Sweet

Texture

Sticky, soft

Aroma

Mild

Color

Vibrant red

Serving Style

On a plate or in a bowl

Serving Temperature

Warm

Accompaniment

  1. Savory dishes: chả lụa (boiled pork sausage), thịt kho tàu (caramelized pork and eggs), lạp xưởng (Chinese-style sausage), chà bông (meat floss), etc.
  2. Drinks: trà đá (iced tea) and sữa đậu nành (soy milk).

Occasions

New Year, festivals

Seasons

Year-round, Spring

Special Diets

Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free

Calories

589 calories, according to data of MyFitnessPal for a bowl of Xôi Gấc

Popularity

Vietnam

Popular Similar Dishes

  1. Xôi Lá Dứa 
  2. Yaksik

Popular Dining Area

Across Vietnam, especially during festivals

Xôi gấc is a traditional sticky rice dish that is characterized by its vibrant red color that is achieved by using gac fruit.

Xoi Gac Infographic

It’s one of Vietnam’s most popular sticky rice variants, even as a street food option, for its simplicity, appealing look, and taste.

To make xôi gấc, the glutinous rice is prepared like a regular sticky rice dish before extracting the color from the gac fruit by soaking its inner flesh and seed in white wine. Then, the rice grains and gac mixture is combined for cooking.

Additionally, some will prepare a thick coconut milk mixture to add to the sticky rice during the cooking process, thus adding a fatty and sweet profile.

Commonly, xôi gấc is often a part of the food offerings in Vietnam during the Lunar New Year.

To learn more about xôi gấc, uncover all the benefits and drawbacks of eating this red sticky rice. Plus, you shouldn’t miss some inquiries from many people about xôi gấc along with dishes that share similarities to this red sticky rice.

Key Points

  • Xôi gấc is a sticky rice dish that uses gac fruit to give the rice a red color and a sweet taste.
  • It’s a traditional dish that is served on special occasions, such as Lunar New Year.

Xôi Gấc Images

What Are Popular Accompaniments For Xôi Gấc?

Xôi gấc pairs well with the following foods and drinks.

Cha Lua

Known as giò lụa in Northern and chả lụa in Southern part. Made from finely ground pork tenderloin, fish sauce, and wrapped in banana leaves before boiling.

Thit Kho Tau

Also known as caramelized pork and eggs, known for its tender pork and caramelized eggs.

Cha Bong

Chà bông is a Vietnamese version of pork floss, that possesses a salty taste. It’s usually sprinkled over xôi gấc to a savory profile to the sticky rice.

Thit Heo Quay

Roasted pork adds the necessary savoriness to xôi gấc; usually, the meat is cut into small bits or moderate pieces for serving as a topping over the sticky rice.

Gio

Giò is a Vietnamese steamed boiled pork sausage offering a smooth and firm texture. People often cut it into slices or bite-sized pieces for pairing with xôi gấc.

Lap Xuong

Lạp xưởng is a type of sweet and savory sausage in Vietnam that is inspired by the Chinese sausage of lap cheong. It’s often fried and cut into slices for serving with xôi gấc.

That xôi gấc can pair with a large number of foods and drinks is a significant upside. Stay tuned for more advantages and possible disadvantages of this Vietnamese starch dish.

Pros and Cons of Eating Xôi Gấc

When you’re considering consuming xôi gấc, explore the good and bad aspects that will greatly affect your decision:

Pros

  • Gluten-free: For those with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, xôi gấc is a naturally gluten-free option.
  • Nutritional value: Gac fruit, a key ingredient in xôi gấc, is rich in antioxidants, particularly beta-carotene (a form of Vitamin A) and lycopene.
  • Versatility: It can be served as both a sweet and savory dish, making it adaptable to different tastes and meal occasions.

Cons

  • High in carbohydrates: Glutinous rice is rich in carbohydrates, which might be a concern for individuals managing blood sugar levels or those on low-carb diets.
  • Glycemic index: Sticky rice has a high glycemic index, meaning it can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, which might be a concern for diabetics.

Later on, discover some of the common concerns relating to xôi gấc to expand your understanding of this popular sticky rice variety.

Xôi Gấc FAQs

Yes, though coconut milk adds richness and flavor, it can be omitted or substituted.

It’s high in carbohydrates, so it should be consumed in moderation by diabetics.

It’s best consumed fresh but can be refrigerated for a couple of days.

While it’s especially popular during Tet, it can be enjoyed year-round.

Ensure even mixing of the gac fruit for color, and don’t overcook the rice to maintain the right texture.

Similar Dishes of Xôi Gấc

Xoi La Dua

Xôi lá dứa is a Vietnamese sticky rice dish flavored with pandan leaves, giving the grains a green color.

Truc Tran (Kris)

Truc Tran (Kris)

Senior Food Editor

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipe Development, Baking and Pastry, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Vietnamese Food Evaluation Expert

Education

  • Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) at TasTAFE
  • Culinary Arts at Kendall College (Australia Branch in Sydney)
  • Vietnamese Cuisine Head Chef at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)

Truc Tran (Kris), an experienced food writer and editor, is great at exploring and describing global cuisines, from simple street food to fancy dining. In her writing, she skillfully mixes different flavors, cooking methods, and culinary traditions, showing the unique character of various cultures through their food and drinks. On azcuisines.com, Kris highlights her knowledge, especially in Asian cuisine and worldwide traditional dishes.

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