Cha-lua

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Sliced cha-lua served over bánh cuốn, and garnished with fried garlic

Cha-lua (Vietnamese: chả lụa or giò lụa) is a Vietnamese food, also known as Vietnamese ham or Vietnamese sausage. Traditionally, it is made of minced pork, potato starch, and nước mắm (fish sauce). The mixture is then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. During the initial wave of Vietnamese immigrants to the United States in the mid-1970s, banana leaves were difficult to find and, thus, Vietnamese chefs substituted aluminum foil for banana leaves, a habit that continues today.

The sausage is normally sliced and eaten with thin rice crepes called bánh cuốn, or braised in fish sauce and cracked pepper.