Cooking when I'm Homesick // Vegan Thịt Kho and Cà Tím Xào

This week's video is an experiment of a different video style, a new microphone, and a way to cheer myself up because I miss my mom. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you try some of my veganized favourite meals growing up.
♥ Learn About the Black Lives Matter movement and how to help: blacklivesmatt...
♥ Educate yourself: blacklivesmatt...
♥ People I've been learning from:
♡ Dr Amie B. Harper: sistahvegan.com/
♡ Layla F Saad: laylafsaad.com/
♡ Monique Melton: www.moniquemel...
♥ Vegan Thịt Kho (Braised Tofu and Mushrooms) Recipe: bit.ly/3dMeRc5
♥ Cà Tím Xào (Braised Eggplant) Recipe: bit.ly/2XOpDcc
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[ S H O P ]
US: Amazon Influencer Storefront: www.amazon.com...
CA: Amazon Influencer Storefront: www.amazon.ca/...
[ F A Q ]
♡ Where do you live? - Hamilton, Ontario, Canada :)
♡ Where do you find mushroom broth powder? - Asian grocery stores have it. I show what the packaging looks like in this video: • Vegan Asian Grocery Ha...
♡ What's up with your skin? - I have eczema, and atopic dermatitis on my hands. I share what I do to help my skin in this video: goo.gl/8vrJ5g
♡ Is KZbin your full time job? - No, I work part-time in marketing :)
♡ What does your logo mean? Why isn't your logo using the Vietnamese flag? - Actually I use the South Vietnam flag because it represents Viet Kieu (Vietnamese immigrants after the fall of Saigon), my parents were both boat refugees before immigrating to Canada. My logo combines two parts of my identity: Maple leaf because I'm Canadian, and the South Vietnam flag because I'm Vietnamese :)
[ F I N D ♥ M E ]
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[ M U S I C ]
❧ Epidemic Sound

[@shanbananx]

Just watched this video next to my BF. He says "She's very genuine. At first I didn't get why you'd like...watch her unload her groceries, but it's her personality!" haha So true. Loved this!

[@Thevietvegan]

Aw that's so nice haha XD

[@KierraCastle]

Thank you for mentioning #blacklivesmatter. It means SO SO SO much to us. I just know change is coming. 💕

[@Starlamoon74]

This is one my most favorite videos of yours. The food looks amazing. I'm trying to form this into words and I'm having trouble but what I love most is how you're speaking about your childhood in connection with these meals. It's really beautiful.

[@SamElle]

YES YES MAKE MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS!!! i also am so homesick since im living alone :(

[@Thevietvegan]

:( I hope you are able to make some comforting food to remind you of home

[@hr6128]

i have followed you on ig for a while and really appreciated your sharing Black lives matter resources/sharing your accountability lately (and always). your willingness to learn is one of the things i like about you and one of the reasons i have followed you for so long (besides delicious food)

[@gigglephishie]

Listening to you talk about your mom got me a bit choked up. Thank you for this video. You are a beautiful person.

[@Thevietvegan]

That's very kind of you to say 🖤

[@ViperBurlesque]

1. Thank you for acknowledging BLM, it means so much to hear it in videos and not just in people's Insta Stories (I'm not Black, I'm Kwakwaka'wakw - Native, but it still obviously means so much to me that this Revolution is happening). 2. YES MORE VIDEOS LIKE THIS!! I'm gunna go pick up veg. and make this for tomorrow night's dinner

[@maxiedoodle]

Yes!!!! Awesome, Lisa! Black lives matter! When one of us can't breathe, no one can.

[@tanyan142]

Honestly one of my favourite vids I’ve watched in a few weeks. All I wanna do rn is watch another one like this ❤️ and thank you for speaking out on KZbin as well, aside from Instagram ⭐️

[@Narutogurl14]

This was lovely :) I do the same when I miss my mom. I make vegetarian/vegan versions of foods she cooked for me, while growing up. It really feels like a warm hug and makes me feel happy, and I could see the smile it put on your face while eating the food, and it's great to see.

[@jamesralph634]

This was such a comforting video to watch today... I’m in a bit of a Bleugh mood from everything that’s been going on so I appreciate the distraction ❤️

[@Thevietvegan]

Hope you are taking care

[@arabena19]

You used the eggplant from the eggplant 🍆 emoji! 😂 idk why that made me so happy 😂😂😂

[@lfwolfson]

I laughed at loud during when you talked about the green broth. This was a pivotal step to every meal in the years I lived in VN and you mentioning it felt so homey!

[@joxsmiles]

Try marinating the tofu with the same thit kho spices. It’s amazing! I used shallots, rice vinager, “fish” sauce, soy sauce, sugar, salt, Thai chilies, fresh minced ginger, and garlic for marinade. Also, cook by caramelizing sugar before adding the rest. It will get that “brown color”. Btw. Thanks for the videos! You made it helpful for me to see that cooking vegan food does not have to be so complicated. :)

[@Jessica-uf8qe]

what a heart-warming video! after i went vegan, one of my worries was losing my mom's cuisine taste but luckily she went along and started to cook much more plant-based dishes! i do think about the meat dishes i used to eat in my childhood, esp thit kho! and seeing you recreating from scratch & vegan make me so happy and relieved, i know i can always rely on your recipes for when i'll have to cook for myself :) so thanks!

[@lovoniaparks]

I’m glad I found your channel! I love learning how to make comfort food! Thanks for sharing your culture and knowledge ❤️

[@PatlLawson]

Your mother must be so proud! I’ll never feel the same about my cooking liquid from greens again. And the eggplant, must try. I just haven’t been able to wrap my head around tofu. Maybe you’ll change my mind looking so comforted.

[@hannahm3126]

I love this video! food is so wonderful and comforting. makes me grateful that I had parents who put effort into cooking meals for me growing up, I know so many didn’t and it's definitely something I've taken for granted

[@lovoniaparks]

Hello! I just made both of the recipes here and I steamed spinach and chopped asparagus because my store didn’t have mustard greens and this was DELICIOUS. Thank you for sharing your culture with us!

[@naturally9369]

I also love to veganize some of my favorite childhood meals! Loved the video, especially the eggplant dish... eggplants are the best❣😊

[@LindaASJ]

Thanks Lisa! I loved the video. I miss my mom so much since she passed and her recipes from when I was a kid, keep me connected too

[@MB-xd4ho]

Not gonna lie, I cried a little at the end. My dad would cook just like that when I was a kid. I don't have the vocabulary for the recipes, only my taste bud memory (is that even a legit term), so it kinda means a lot to me learning it now. Thịt Kho was always one of my favorites, my dad used to say the eggs were tiger testicles xD Some of my other favorites were rau muống xào tỏi, pork ribs with this insanely good marinade and anything my dad would make out of a carp (soup, pieces simmered in tomato sauce, and fried patties which had cilantro in them). AND we always had the clear green soup at the end too and weirdly enough it used to be my favorite moment of the dinner :D never understood the order, but clearing out the rice bowl just makes so much sense! I know you said you're going through a rough patch emotion wise (Father's Day and all) and I just wanna send you a hug, a big thank you and appreciation for the amazing person that you are.

[@theartoflovingwe1860]

i love this and would love to see more videos like this especially homestyle cooking

[@misspeaches1144]

OMG YES. I’ve had this eggplant dish in a restaurant before and been trying to recreate it ever since. There ARE no recipes anywhere!!! Thank you Lisa I will be making this as soon as I get my hands on those ingredients !

[@misspeaches1144]

Polenta will totally take the place of the juicy egg yolk btw, that’s what I use in Shakshuka!

[@gwentan5367]

I've watched a lot of vegan channels and videos, and you are my favourite to watch (: I like the realness and honesty from you, keep doing what you are doing!

[@Thevietvegan]

That's so very kind

[@MsLepuk]

These dishes look amazing! The dark sauce is something I've recently discovered myself (forced to cook more now since eating out is not an option!), I found it helps add some caramelising sweetness to the dish as well as gives it a nice colour. Also, I totally felt the same when I was distancing myself from my family earlier this year so *HUGS* and please keep videos like this coming. They are very comforting :)

[@lindsaytoussaint]

Yo I love that fermented stuff!! It’s such a flavor punch of yumminess.

[@sensiblecrime7699]

I enjoyed it very much. When you talk about the foods you enjoyed in childhood it reminds me of foods we frequently ate in childhood.

[@kendallstone5819]

wow...that bean curd and veg looks really good. I'm going to try that. I'm also going to try the eggplant dish too...i may use fish sauce instead of soy cause i like that flavour better!

[@Hebbybya]

Dang, this just made me SUPER home sick, too. Thanks for sharing a bit of your family with us!

[@kelley.s]

I loved this! Enjoy seeing family meals.

[@iamkimmieho164]

I haven’t had thit kho in over two years since transitioning to vegan. My dad would make suon ngot and I loved ca kho with a side of rau muong.

[@pgp519]

at some buddhist centres/retreats we've used the cooking liquid to clean our bowls a bit and drink it too - maybe thats related? also seeing that way of eating with the few different dishes and a main bowl of rice took me back to being at my vietnamese best friends house when i was young, sunday afternoons after a sleep over was always big!

[@francessweeney1]

Oh god watch "Sauce stache" make cheese using fermented bean curd, he's facinating the things he creates.

[@Thevietvegan]

Ooh interesting! I shall check him out

[@GlowySweetFabulous]

Awwwww I hope you get to visit with your family soon. Thia dish looks amazing Literally everything you cook, looks cozy and yummy. I also want to thank you for using your platform to speak on black lives matter. Thank you

[@XoxoHaiti]

The Cà Tím Xào reminds me of legim, a haitian dish that is eggplant mashed with other vegetables. It is not the most attractive dish, but it's so good and tastes like home.

[@Thevietvegan]

Mmmmm sometimes the most delicious foods are ugly in appearance! More for us XD

[@lindsaytoussaint]

Legim was my fave as a kid! When folks ask me how a Haitian-American can be vegan I say “legim” and call it a day! LOL it tastes like home to me too

[@aliceis9068]

I don't even know what you're talking abt re: eggplant, i think it's beautiful even without the green onion!!! But green onion is delicious xD

[@monsyd913]

I'm so sorry you're feeling homesick 😌 Thank you for sharing your happy foods with us 💙

[@swagger1021]

I loved this video!!!!❤️ thit kho was one of my favorite dishes ever so I’m excited to try this😭

[@Momodofu]

I think it’s so cool that I live near where you do as a Viet, I relate to a lot of stuff about you, like I thought I was the only one who used golden mountain seasoning growing up. We even shop at the same locations (b&t, etc) 🙏🏼

[@lostllama07]

Thank you! Your video reminds me of home 🤗. My favorite dishes growing up were cá kho tô (Viet braised catfish) and canh chua (Viet sweet & sour soup)🤤. I've made vegan versions before and it always takes me back to my childhood... 💕

[@latasha6100]

I made the two main dishes...yum! I used sweet bok choy. I also love the fermented tofu!

[@siddmartha]

Those are my comfort food dishes too! I except I'm not a huge fan of mustard greens.. I love canh with tofu, chayote, cilantro + seasonings. I'm pretty homesick right now too, and I'm thinking Im gunna make some viet food tonight!

[@Thevietvegan]

Hahah I grew up eating a TON of mustard greens, so it's all I know! Is chayote similar in texture to that long hairy squash?

[@siddmartha]

​@@Thevietvegan Yes, it's the same kind of texture, it's more firm than that squash because it doesn't have a bunch of seeds in the middle. I use it because there aren't any Asian grocery stores around me with that long hairy squash..but it's really just as good.

[@barrbuff]

Loved this video with the sentimental touch.

[@nebraskafrankcourtny]

Wonderful video!! It's so fun to see what you grew up with, and feels so close-to-home for you!! I will try to make something like this, vegan too!! I'm sure it's yummy!!!! And thanks for recognizing Black Lives Matter - I'm with you 100%!!!!!

[@banhit75]

Thank you, this made me so nostalgic!

[@KierraCastle]

I feel like we all have the same stove 😂😂😂

[@autumnrain1892]

I haven't watched it yet but I like it. It's you girl! Everything is awesome! Keep your head up♥️

[@tamcon72]

The word you are looking for is "communal." We all miss communal eating. The social distancing from loved ones and added righteous social strife make for an even more overwhelming experience of life. So much is beyond our control, and good, familiar, homey food is a balm. Yours looks nourishing and delicious. Chef Jana uses fermented tofu in several cheese recipes, FYI. Stay well, and TFP!

[@KierraCastle]

lol is the eggplant recipe soft to eat or is it chewy? I’m going to try it with the rice! Never made anything with eggplant but really want to try it

[@Thevietvegan]

Hahaha It's soft, but the part with skin is kinda chewy? It's mostly soft though!

[@KierraCastle]

The Viet Vegan ahhh gotcha hahaha thank you so much!

[@garya3056]

Super vid, Lisa. So sweet and nostalgic. You definitely need to have your mom back on the channel at the appropriate time! I can remember walking to work in Chengdu China early in the morning and the street hawkers would be selling the “chòu dòufu” (stinky tofu). Not such a pleasant aroma at that hour- well not for a westerner anyway! Stay well. 😎

[@Thevietvegan]

ahahahha I have so many nostalgic memories of stinky fish markets and the narrow food stalls in Vietnam. I would have loved to try that stinky tofu!

[@garya3056]

The Viet Vegan I bet! I’ve spent some time in HCMC and Hanoi... and one bizarre trip to Vung Tau. Will have to trade stories some time. 😎

[@SMsneakyninja]

Veg heavy, yeah! And hell yeah, Black Lives Matter! I also believe I need educate myself, unlearn how I see and perceive race, justice, and relearn through reading and listening to black voices.

[@KierraCastle]

Omg I can’t believe I’m this early! Ahhh!!! Okay let me watch so I can add all my comments hahaha

[@BurgundyBees]

I love canh! Fellow viet sending some love!

[@AlannahSH]

This was so cozy 💗

[@nozee77]

All of it looks soooo good! I didn't get what kind of greens you cooked there. Mustard something? I want to make everything! Vietnamese kitchen is wonderful.

[@Thevietvegan]

yeah they're mustard greens!

[@glitch84-]

@@Thevietvegan oh, i thought there were some kind of chards

[@janal6984]

thank you for the heart warming video. It's comforting to see you conforted by making childhood food. (hope that maoes sense) I don't get nostalgic about childhood foods (my mom is a pretty bad cook) and i ate most hot meals in kindergarten, after school center and the school cafeteria which weren't good either. The only thing that makes me weirdly nostalgic is weird stuff like veggie aspik and tinned fish in tomato sauce. Neither of which i eat and imagine are hard to veganize

[@Thevietvegan]

Aww haha I have friends who had moms who couldn't cook. It happens! The first time I ever had aspik I was in Northern Ontario, far from home and so confused about tomato aspik at my ex's family home 😂 food and nostalgia are such interesting phenomena!

[@davidthescottishvegan]

My mum isn't a cook either and unfortunately still consumes animal foods which makes it fortunate that I don't live with her. Due to the lockdown and restrictions in place my mum has to stay at home so I have to do her shopping for her which I don't feel comfortable doing because I have to buy animal products. But I can't refuse to buy her groceries because if I did that she would go out to get them and she is in the vulnerable category which if she got the Coronavirus may kill her and I would feel guilty about that.

[@thedivinehealing4145]

Thank you! please make more Viet dishes 🙏

[@Thevietvegan]

Hoping to do more soon!

[@Kx____]

i love this!

[@spanishDoll1]

In the Caribbean we do something similar with the eggplant

[@nias5114]

Such a lovely video! 🥰

[@hoon75]

YES THỊT KHO AND THAT EGGPLANT DISH. I haven't had either since going vegan but NOW'S MY CHANCE. Bless u. And also the crunchy guava thing oh baby this video really took me back. Also maybe my parents didn't feed me hardcore viet food but I can't handle chao haha the flavor is real pungent

[@Julia-gn6yl]

totally loved this style of vid!

[@boo1993]

Love this video

[@conradwill]

Yessss please make more Vietnamese style family dinner videos

[@platefulofveggies6388]

What a spread!

[@cnVincenti]

Wholesome af ♥️

[@rebekkacraigon763]

I love super easy food like this it all looks delicious. Missing my family too. 😔

[@itecblogger]

I made your eggplant dish and it was totally DELISH!!!

[@thebusybee7080]

Hi Lisa, I just came across your channel and have spent a while viewing it. I am not a vegan but enjoy a lot of vegan dishes. I am going to make your vegan lentil patties and the vegan kale, lentil and barley stew. In the vegan kale, lentil and barley stew you use a cooking pot that interests me. I am a really old lady (but sharp) and am tiny. I dont like non stick pots. I had a great Breville slow cooker but the nonstick coating came off. The company was great and sent me another one and the same thing started happening. Is the pot you used in this video a stainless steel pot? Many of the stainless steel pots are too heavy for me. Could you please reply and let me know where you got it and the brand name and the size. Thanks. I did subscribe and enjoy your personality.

[@Thevietvegan]

Hi there! The set of cooking pots I have are pretty old, I got them when I went off to university back in 2008 haha. I think its...Carrera? I don't think they still exist though. It was just a whole set of them, but I only had room for 4 pots in my dorm room so my mom has all the other ones and I never asked for them back lmao.

[@thebusybee7080]

@@Thevietvegan Thanks for replying. Too bad about the pot, it looks like one I could handle. I'll keep looking. All the best to you!

[@dawnmariebooher3269]

Just subscribed and found your channel today. Aspiring vegan here. I found another video of yours making Onigiri after googling that while reading The Life Changing Manga of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo.

[@dianalesaux]

Yesss more veganised Viet home style meal please. It’s so hard to find it online 😩

[@MeabhR]

Yuuuum. Lovely video, thank you!

[@colleenchung1302]

I've been missing this ever since becoming vegan. Now I can recreate my own. Thanks for this vid (and using your platform to speak for BLM)!

[@monicamaine5828]

loved this!

[@joaofarias6473]

That looks sooooo good!!

[@glitch84-]

omg, my mum's loves eggplants! I'm going to try your recipe for her, i hope japanese eggplants are not that different from the ones i can find here.

[@Thevietvegan]

Italian eggplant works too! It's just slightly more bitter and will loose it's shape but my mom used to make this with Italian eggplant when we didn't have any access to Japanese

[@mariane.gilb42]

Hey, where did you say you got the vegan fish sauce in Montreal? 😁 Thank youu

[@Thevietvegan]

Herbivores Marche :)

[@mariane.gilb42]

@@Thevietvegan ohhh of course! Thank you!

[@nealieanderson512]

Avocado is a good egg sub....and loved the video!

[@Thevietvegan]

I don't think avocado would be quite a good replacement for hardboiled eggs in this case haha.

[@glitch84-]

Lisa, have you ever been to Vietnam? If no, do you plan to go one day, with all your family maybe?

[@Thevietvegan]

I've been many times! Unfortunately I haven't been back since 2009, so I've never been while vegan :( I definitely want to go again soon but with COVID looks like soon will be a couple yrs feom now :(

[@ashleyburks4639]

Girl I love you so much so don't take this the wrong way. You may need to start doing posture excersices because hunched over shoulders are so bad for you in the long run and j want you to be alright when older and not stuck.

[@paulmielek8199]

Looks delicious

[@taoquan7541]

EM ĂN CHAY ĐƯỢC LÀ TỐT, CHÚC MỪNG EM. HY VỌNG EM RA VIDEO VỀ CÁCH NẤU CHAY CHO MỌI NGƯỜI CÙNG XEM NHA.

[@navyboijake21]

The canned vegan “meats” in Asian markets put other alternatives to shame!

[@phillycheeseYO]

You're too cute haha love your videos. I'll have to try making meal.

[@crystalyeh5790]

Chinese people also often use the water boiled for noodles and dumplings to "rinse" out their rice bowl and drink it. Just a waste-not-want-not mentality, I guess.

[@davivoxyvlogs82]

So I just googled viet eggplants and found this video. I miss my mommy's cooking so much and always trying to replicate it lmao but I can only do so much!

[@Thevietvegan]

I hope this is close! My mom made this all the time and it's so nostalgic!

[@davivoxyvlogs82]

@@Thevietvegan I'm so surprised it looks so easy to make. I thought my mom would spend years making this stuff cause it's just so damn delicious. I'ma have to try this really soon. I really miss that mustard broth/soup thing. It's so light and refreshing from what I remember.

[@colec2181]

LIIIIISSSSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 😁😁😁😁😁

[@priyankaankhiwala43]

Where do you get vegan shrimp?

[@Thevietvegan]

My asian market or Coven in Hamilton :)

[@jamesalexander6139]

I loved this video, can’t wait to make the eggplant 🍆

[@yellowxchick]

My mom would make us drink the veggie broth too 😅

[@Thevietvegan]

Hahah yep I definitely have some flashback memories of my mom yelling at me to drink the broth XD

[@tompham184]

😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋

[@Innie765]

How do you find it when you cook dishes like this and Eddie doesnt eat it?

[@Thevietvegan]

Eddie is always willing to try new things at least once haha, so in this case, he ate the tofu from the kho and he liked it, but everything else (shrimp, mushroom, eggplant and chao) he was super not into.

[@ON-rz4li]

its okay if i use coconut water yeah?

[@Thevietvegan]

Should be okay. You might want to add a bit of sugar to add sweetness to complement the salty.

[@francessweeney1]

My mum would drink the cabbage water after the cabbage was cooked and removed!!! Us kids never got into it!!!!!

[@iamkimmieho164]

Omg my mom would too

[@marybethhourigan416]

Us too but it's because it was uber salty and savoury from the bacon. Delish poured over the boiled potato on the side. Tricky to veganise the salty bacon flavour but I'm gonna try!!!

[@rose2dimples]

My mum to!! I'd pour it on my rice and thit kho

[@maremacd]

People try to lightly grill/roast eggplant and it’s awful! Eggplant has to be brown/gray and mushy to be good!

[@camiloevandolorier]

exactly!!!

[@Thevietvegan]

Although I've had fried eggplant that's then cooked into a bunch of other saucy seasonings and that was also delicious :o

[@janellecarpenter]

Well. Just wanna eat all of that 😅

[@IM_Morethan]

love your videos. If you want to learn more about the black community #cheaplazyvegan does a great video.

[@Thevietvegan]

Her video knocked it out of the park! Watched it this morning, she is truly so good at those kinds of videos. It was so informative, passionate, and well-researched.

[@IM_Morethan]

@@Thevietvegan Yes it was. I'm a black woman in America and I learned a lot.

[@katiehuynh03]

So weird to see you eat chow like that. Everybody in my family mixes and mashes the bean curd with a little of the sesame oil from the jar, lime and a little sugar. And we dip the food into it

[@Thevietvegan]

My mom mashes it and mixes with lemon juice and the liquid from the jar but I always just liked eating little bits of the chunk hahah. It's definitely a me thing

[@JanPLopez993]

Lychee - is pronounced 'Lie-chee'.