Trying New Foods In Vietnam: Kem Bơ
When summertime is in full swing here in Da Nang, it’s evidenced by the surge of visitors to our local Chợ Bắc Mỹ An’s kem bơ stand. Kem is obviously an important word to learn for your Vietnam travels, because it means ice cream. But what about kem bơ? Google translating to English, you’ll be given the word “buttercream,” a decadent type of cake frosting. But kem bơ is even more delicious (and healthier!), because this local flavor is made from fresh avocados.
Yes, that’s right. Avocados.
Here’s how this unique dessert comes together: Large blocks of ice are manually macheted into small chunks which are placed at the bottom of a tall glass, atop which a serving of freshly whipped avocado then a scoop of plain ice cream is added before being sprinkled with sweet, crunchy, dried coconut flakes. Eaten with a long handled spoon, you can choose to work your way down layer-by-layer, or, blend the ingredients into delicious harmony.
Since we previously considered avocados to live exclusively in the world of savory food, it’s exciting to learn that they make a fantastic addition to frozen desserts. And while avocado prices may be soaring in the US, kem bơ in Vietnam is still an affordable indulgence at just 10,000 VND (about 45 cents USD) a serving. Chúc ngon miệng!
