Pho doesn't taste as good without these (in my Vietnamese opinion)! This is hanh dam or Vietnamese vinegar onions and it adds a nice little sweet acidity to every bowl of pho I've ever had since I was a toddler. It's a really simple recipe that takes just 5 minutes and a few ingredients! Make it to pair with your next bowl of pho or any soup or meat dish and thank me later.
My dad got my sister and me into this when we were kids and now I can't go a bowl of pho without it! It's actually disappointing that I don't see this on the menu at many pho restaurants in New York City, but I definitely order it when I see it. Our favorite way to eat it is by drizzling a little bit of hoisin sauce over it, grabbing a few pieces and putting them on top of our spoonful of pho noodles, broth, and eye of round beef.
These vinegared onions go great with my pho congee that can be made faster than a pot of pho!
What is hanh dam?
Hanh dam is a Vietnamese side dish and directly translates to vinegar onions, with "hanh" meaning onion and "dam" meaning vinegar. They're quick pickles that take 5 minutes to make and are often served alongside bowls of pho or plates of Vietnamese grilled meats.
Why you'll love this vinegared onions recipe
- It takes literally 5 minutes - So quick and easy and makes a nice tangy addition to your takeout pho!
- Uses only 3 ingredients! Just onion, rice vinegar and sugar.
- Zero cooking required - It uses a potent brine of rice vinegar and sugar to achieve that pickled, vinegared flavor.
- Cuts through rich, fatty meats - Balances out fatty beef or chicken with some acidity!
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Ingredients
- Onion
- Sugar
- Rice vinegar
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Vietnamese Vinegar Onions (Hanh Dam)
- Step 1: Cut your onion in half. Using a mandoline on the thinnest setting, thinly slice the onion.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix together rice vinegar and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Step 3: Add the onion to the bowl and mix to submerge the onions. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes before enjoying. Optional: Drizzle with hoisin sauce.
How to store Vietnamese vinegar onions
Store the vinegar onions in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
FAQ
They're kind of like pickled onions except these are pretty instant and require no "pickling" time, which is why many people refer to them as vinegared onions! They're slightly sweet but also vinegary.
Yes! You can use white vinegar if that's all you have.
Other recipes to try:
Vietnamese Pickled Onions (Hanh Dam)
Equipment
- Mandoline
Ingredients
- 1 white onion
- ½ cup rice vinegar
- 1 ½ tsps sugar
Instructions
- Cut your onion in half. Using a mandoline on the thinnest setting, thinly slice the onion.1 white onion
- In a bowl, mix together rice vinegar and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves.½ cup rice vinegar, 1 ½ tsps sugar
- Add the onion to the bowl and mix to submerge the onions. Let it sit for at least 5 minutes before enjoying. Optional: Drizzle with hoisin sauce.
Notes
- Store the vinegar onions in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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