Food / 15 June, 2019 / My Baba

Vietnamese Bun Cha with Rice Noodles and Dipping Sauce

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: Approx. 30 minutes
Cooking Time: Approx. 35 minutes

Nutritional Information: 400kcal per portion

Ingredients:

• For the meatballs:
• The non-stick kitchen Foil
• 25g caster sugar
• 75ml cold water
• 1 stalk lemongrass, outer leaf removed, roughly sliced
• 5cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 large clove garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 lime, zest and juice
• 500g pork mince, 10% fat
• 1 tsp good quality fish sauce
• Black pepper
• 1 red chilli, chopped
• 1 spring onion, sliced

For the noodle salad:

• Fine rice noodles
• 1 gem lettuce, leaves separated and washed
• 2 carrots, peeled and julienned
• 15cm cucumber, cut in half then into sticks
• 2-3 radishes, very finely sliced
• 2tbs unsalted roasted peanuts
• handful fresh coriander
• handful fresh mint leaves

For the dipping sauce:

• 1 tbs caster sugar
• 75ml hot water
• 1 lime, juice only
• 1 tbs good quality fish sauce
• 2 tsp rice vinegar
• 1 large red chilli, very finely chopped

Method:

1. First make the caramel by adding the caster sugar and 50ml cold water to a small pan. Swirl to dissolve then bubble for 5-10 minutes over medium heat until amber coloured. Do not stir. Turn off the heat and carefully add the remaining cold water. Set aside
2. Place the lemongrass into the mini food processor and blitz until fairly smooth (it will still be a little fibrous). Add the ginger, garlic, lime zest and juice and blitz again. Tip the paste into a bowl and add the pork mince, 2tbs cooled caramel and 1teaspoon of fish sauce. Season with black pepper and mix well then chill for 30 minutes
3. Make the dipping sauce. Mix the sugar and hot water and stir until dissolved. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir then set aside
4. Preheat the oven to 170ºC fan/190ºC/Gas 5. Line a small baking tray with non-stick kitchen foil (non-shiny side facing up as this will ensure the meatballs don’t stick). Shape the pork mixture into approx.16 meatballs and place onto the lined tray. Bake for 20 minutes then sprinkle over the spring onion and red chilli and cook for a further 5 minutes
5. Meanwhile make the noodle salad. Cook the noodles, drain and rinse in cold water, then place into a large serving bowl or divide between individual bowls
6. Arrange the lettuce, carrots, cucumber and radish onto a board or platter along with the meatballs and scatter over the coriander and mint. Serve with the peanuts and dipping sauce on the side

Recipe from Bacofoil.