How to Make Vietnamese Red Rice

Learning how to make Vietnamese red rice is the perfect way to liven up some leftover white rice that might be sitting in the back of the fridge! This traditional Vietnamese dish is super delicious, but it is also a breeze to make. I’m always a huge fan of recipes with a simple ingredient list, and this Vietnamese red rice is no exception!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer.

What Is Vietnamese Red Rice?

Also known as “Com Do,” Vietnamese red rice is a side dish made from rice and tomato paste. This dish has a great flavor and is a great way to use leftover white rice. In addition, it is straightforward to make, only using five ingredients!

What Should I Serve With Vietnamese Red Rice?

To make Vietnamese red rice a complete meal, simply add a serving of protein, like chicken or fish, and a vegetable, like carrots, mushrooms, or broccoli.

Here are a few other ideas:

Shaking Beef

As another traditional Vietnamese dish, shaking beef comprises seared cube steak and vegetables, which pairs excellently with Vietnamese red rice.

Pork Chops

Pork is used frequently in Vietnamese cuisine, so making pork chops dressed with lemongrass and fish sauce creates a flavorful protein for red rice.

Stir-Fried Vegetables

My favorite stir-fry veggies to add are mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, sugar snap peas, onions, and bell peppers!

Roasted Meats 

Any type of roasted meat like pork, beef, or chicken is perfect with Vietnamese red rice!

Fried Eggs

I love mixing a runny egg with fried rice- the yolk adds flavor, texture, and depth to the rice. If you don’t like over-easy or over-medium eggs, feel free to throw a scrambled egg in with this dish.

How Long Does It Take To Make Vietnamese Red Rice?

You can make Vietnamese red rice in as little as 10 minutes– maybe even quicker! Using leftover rice and only a few pantry staples makes for a speedy side dish or base for lunch or dinner.

Is Vietnamese Red Rice Healthy?

While many people make fried rice with ultra-processed vegetable oil, my recipe uses coconut oil instead, an excellent source of healthy fats.

In addition, I replaced soy sauce with tamari sauce, which is naturally gluten-free, higher in protein, and a better source of several vitamins and minerals.

As a result, my Vietnamese red rice is a healthy side dish option with these two substitutions.

5 Tips and Suggestions for Making Vietnamese Red Rice

Tip 1. Use high-quality tomato paste. This recipe is very simple, with only five ingredients.

Tip 2. Use leftover rice. This recipe calls for day-old rice. If you forgot to make some rice the day before, or don’t have any leftover rice on hand, cook the grains and throw them in the freezer for a couple of hours.

Tip 3. Make sure to stir them so that the top doesn’t dry out. Keep the wok hot. If your wok is at low or medium heat, the rice won’t get as crispy as it needs to be. High heat results in the best results for Vietnamese red rice.

Tip 4. You can replace the oil with butter. While this isn’t a necessity, butter can create a richer flavor for this dish. However, be aware that butter burns faster than oil, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on it as it cooks.

Tip 5. Feel free to substitute pasta for rice. If you happen to be out of rice, you can use spiral, penne, or shell noodles to create a unique spin on this Vietnamese meal.

Vietnamese Red Rice Recipe

Ingredients

Servings: 2

• 1 cup jasmine rice (day-old rice)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 tbsp refined coconut oil
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp tamari

Cookware and Tools

• Deep saute pan or wok
• Wooden cooking spoon

How to Make Vietnamese Red Rice (Step-by-Step)

Step 1. Brown the Garlic

In a deep saute pan or wok on medium-high heat, add refined coconut oil until it’s hot but not smoking.

Then, cook the garlic until it’s slightly brown (not burned) for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Then, add the tomato paste and stir for another 30 seconds.

Step 2. Cook the Rice

Add the day-old rice and tamari. Break up the rice and stir everything together until it is all combined for about 5 minutes.

Then, serve immediately with your favorite proteins and vegetables.

Other Popular Vietnamese Rice Dishes

Chicken Sticky Rice

This traditional Vietnamese dish is sticky rice with boiled or fried chicken, served on a banana leaf. Typically, Vietnamese people sprinkle this dish with ground shrimp and chili sauce.

Vietnamese Rice Balls

You can prepare these rice balls with long grain rice, shape them into logs or balls, and eat them with your hands. In addition, you can add minced pork or sesame salt, which is a traditional way of preparing this dish.

Burnt Rice

Also known as “Com Chay,” you can make burnt rice from glutinous steamed rice cut into flat and round shapes.

The rice is then dried in the sun for a few days, then fried in hot oil. After preparation, the burnt rice usually is served with goat meat, beef, carrots, and mushrooms.

Vietnamese Fried Rice

This fried rice dish is a lot like standard fried rice. Typically prepped with white rice, garlic, pepper, and salt, the rice is cooked, then fried in hot oil.

You can add various seasonings and toppings for variety, like soy sauce, fish sauce, eggs, sausage, or vegetables.

You May Also Like:

• Warming Instant Pot Chao Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Congee)
• Easy Instant Pot Pho Ga (Chicken Pho)
• Sticky Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
• Easy Vietnamese Chicken Curry (Cà Ri Gà)

Broken Rice

Also known as “Com Tom,” broken rice is traditional Vietnamese street food in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese folks prepare this dish with imperfect and broken rice grains, usually thrown away in the milling process.

Today, you can use this imperfect rice so that it doesn’t go to waste. You can serve broken rice with pork skin, pork chops, fish patties, and fried eggs. Standard toppings include lime, mint, pickled vegetables, and sauces.

Bamboo-Cooked Sticky Rice

Originally invented for long journeys, this meal starts with stuffing sticky rice into bamboo tubes. Next, wrap it in banana leaves and roast it over hot coal. This dish is usually served with grilled chicken or pork and sprinkled with peanuts or sesame seeds.

Square Sticky Rice Cake

This traditional Vietnamese rice cake’s ingredients include mung beans, fatty pork, and glutinous rice.

You can season the pork with spices such as salt, pepper, fish sauce, and green onions, wrap it in banana leaves, bamboo, or a leafy plant with the rice and bean paste, and then boil them.

The Takeaway

Vietnamese red rice is an excellent option if you haven’t been to the grocery store in a while and aren’t sure what to make for dinner! It’s simple to make by combining ingredients you likely already have in the pantry.

Then, add an easy protein, like eggs, and chop up some veggies to have a quick, healthy, and delicious meal.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and star rating below! I’d love to hear from you.