Bun Cha (Bún Chả Hà Nội)
Bun Cha is nutritious, packed with flavor, and easy to throw together on a weeknight! Bun Cha is served differently in Vietnam but we've made a version familiar to those in the U.S.
Ingredients
For the Meatballs
- 1 lb ground pork can use ground turkey for less fat
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp white sugar
- ½ cup green onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tbsp lemongrass paste or fresh lemongrass finely chopped
- 2 tbsp oil for cooking
Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Dressing)
- 3 tbsp white sugar
- 4 tbsp fish sauce
- ⅓ cup water
- juice of 1 lime
- 1 bird's eye chili
- 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
Everything Else
- 4 servings (3.5 oz each) vermicelli noodles dried
- large handful cilantro
- julienned pickled daikon and carrot*
- handful bean sprouts
- lettuce leaves
- sliced bird's eye chili optional
- lime wedge optional
Recipe Instructions
For the Meatballs
- In a medium sized bowl, combine all of the ingredients (except the oil) and mix well.
- Shape into 12 - 14 mini patties with your hands.
- Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add oil. When hot, add as many patties as you can without them touching. Cook for 2 - 3 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for another two minutes. Repeat until all are cooked.
For the Nuoc Cham
- Combine all the ingredients in a sealable container. Set aside.
For the Noodles
- Add dried noodles to boiling water and cook for as long as package indicates. Drain, set aside.
Assembly
- Place noodles in each bowl. Top a small spoonful of the dressing and mix with noodles so they don't stick. Top with a handful of beansprouts, carrots and radish, and wedge some lettuce in.
- Add meatballs, cilantro, and spoon with a generous helping of dressing.
Notes
*Quick Pickled Vegetables: 1 cup julienned carrot, 1 loosely packed cup julienned daikon radish, 1 cup warm tap water, 1/3 cup white sugar, 1 tbsp salt, 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar.
Directions: Combine sugar, salt, vinegar and water. Stir until sugar and salt are dissolved. Add vegetables and let stand for at least 1 hour to pickle. Drain.
Nutrition
Calories: 426kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 21gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 2187mgPotassium: 456mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 136IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg
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