Vietnamese Bun Cha with Grilled Pork and Nuoc Cham

Name: Vietnamese Bun Cha with Grilled Pork and Nuoc Cham
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 500g ground pork; 2 tablespoons fish sauce; 1 tablespoon sugar; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 3 tablespoons fish sauce; 3 tablespoons lime juice; 3 tablespoons water; 2 tablespoons sugar; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 red chili, sliced thinly; 200g rice vermicelli noodles; 1 cup lettuce, shredded; 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

A classic Hanoi street food dish

A delectable combination of grilled pork patties served with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and a savory-sweet dipping sauce known as Nuoc Cham.

1 h 30 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Grilled Pork

500g ground pork

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon sugar

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon black pepper

For the Nuoc Cham Sauce

3 tablespoons fish sauce

3 tablespoons lime juice

3 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons sugar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 red chili, sliced thinly

For the Vermicelli & Vegetables

200g rice vermicelli noodles

1 cup lettuce, shredded

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Preparation

Marinating the Pork

Mix Ingredients

Mix ground pork with fish sauce, sugar, garlic, and black pepper in a bowl.

Chill

Cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Marinate the pork for at least 1 hour for the best flavor infusion.

Shape Patties

Shape the pork mixture into small patties.

Ensure the pork patties are of even thickness to cook through evenly.

Preparing the Nuoc Cham Sauce

Combine Ingredients

Combine fish sauce, lime juice, water, and sugar in a bowl. Stir until sugar dissolves.

Add Aromatics

Add garlic and sliced chili, mixing well.

Adjust the amount of chili to match your spice tolerance.

Rest Sauce

Set aside to let the flavors meld.

Cooking Process

Grilling Pork Patties

Preheat grill and cook pork patties for about 3-4 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through.

Grilling: total 8 min on medium-high heat.

Boiling Vermicelli

Cook vermicelli in boiling water as per package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.

Vermicelli prep: 10 min at high heat.

Sauce Final Touch

Taste the Nuoc Cham and adjust lime and sugar levels to balance acidity and sweetness.

Plating & Serving