Bun Cha (Vietnamese Pork Meatball and Noodle Salad)

May 23, 2023May 23, 20230 3
Delicious Bun Cha recipe for your lunch or dinner
in Vietnamese

Prep

30 min

Cook

20 min

Ready In

50 min

Level

Moderate

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

2 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons water
1 lb ground pork
1 large shallot , minced as small as possible
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 -2 teaspoon brown sugar
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic ( or grated )
1 red Thai chile , minced
1 lb thin rice noodles
1/2 head lettuce , torn into small pieces ( use soft leaf lettuce , red adds more color , but green is fine )
2 cups loosely packed of a mixture of asian herbs ( such as cilantro , mint , shiso , Thai basil , etc . )

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
4
Calories
435
Sugar
17g
Fat
19g
Bun Cha is a Vietnamese street food that is traditionally eaten for lunch or dinner. It is has two main components, grilled pork meatballs and noodle salad. The dish is served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, Vietnamese rice noodles, a bowl of fresh herbs, and lettuce. The meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and have a lovely smoky grilled flavor that is wonderful against the fresh herbs. Eating Bun Cha is not only a delight for the taste buds but also a feast for the eyes. The vibrant colors of the herbs and vegetables make for a beautiful and appetizing display.

Instructions

1.In a small bowl, mix the sugar and water until the sugar is dissolved.
2.In a large bowl, combine the ground pork, shallot, 3 tbsp fish sauce, black pepper, and 2 tbsp of the sugar water mixture. Knead the mixture until it is sticky. Make small meatballs, approximately 1-inch in diameter.
3.Preheat your grill pan on high heat until very hot, add oil to the pan and then grilled the meatballs.
4.In a medium bowl, combine 2 tbsp fish sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, 1 cup of water, garlic, and Thai chili, then set aside.
5.Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions.
6.To assemble the dish, divide the lettuce among 4 serving bowls. Add the cooked noodles on top of the lettuce.
7.Drizzle the herbs over the noodles. Add the cooked meatballs on top of the noodles. Serve with the dipping sauce.

PROS

Bun Cha is a flavorful and aromatic Vietnamese dish.
The meatballs are juicy, flavorful, and have a lovely smoky grilled flavor.

The dish is rich in protein and comes with a healthy dose of fresh vegetables, herbs, and rice noodles.

CONS

This dish has high sodium content due to the fish sauce, so it’s not recommended for people who are on a low-sodium diet.

It requires more preparation than some simpler meals.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

Bun Cha is a healthy meal full of all the right nutrients. The dish is high in protein, fiber, and vitamins.
Rice noodles also provide a source of carbohydrates that can give you energy.
Herbs like Thai basil or mint also have medicinal properties that can be beneficial to your health.

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