Bún Chả: Vietnamese Vermicelli Salad with Grilled Pork
Bún Chả pairs grilled pork patties with cold vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, and a tangy fish-sauce-based dipping broth. The pork marinates briefly before hitting a hot grill or grill pan, keeping the whole meal within a 30-minute window. Diners assemble their own bowls at the table, dipping noodles and pork into the broth as they eat.
Equipment
- Grill or grill pan
- Large pot
- Mixing bowls
- Mortar and pestle
- Tongs
Ingredients
For the Grilled Pork Marinade:
- 1 pound pork shoulder thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For the Vermicelli and Salad:
- 8 ounces rice vermicelli noodles
- 1 cup cucumbers julienned
- 1 cup carrots julienned
- 1 cup fresh herbs (mint, cilantro, basil) roughly chopped
For the Dipping Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons fish sauce
- 4 tablespoons lime juice freshly squeezed
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine pork, fish sauce, sugar, garlic, black pepper, and vegetable oil. Mix well and let marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- While the pork marinates, prepare noodles according to package instructions. Rinse with cold water and drain well. Set aside.
- Preheat grill or grill pan over medium-high heat (around 200°C/390°F). Grill the pork slices for about 3-4 minutes on each side until well-cooked and slightly charred. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, warm water, and chili garlic sauce to make the dipping sauce.
- To assemble, place a portion of noodles in each bowl. Top with grilled pork, cucumbers, carrots, and fresh herbs. Drizzle with dipping sauce.
Notes
- Adjust the level of chili garlic sauce in the dipping sauce to your spice preference.
- You can swap pork for chicken or tofu for a variation.
Nutrition
Calories: 471kcalCarbohydrates: 71gProtein: 18gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 2725mgPotassium: 611mgFiber: 3gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 6652IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 81mgIron: 3mg
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