Bun Cha is a popular Vietnamese dish that consists of grilled pork meatballs and a savory broth served with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and vegetables. It’s a delicious and refreshing meal that is perfect for warm weather, and can be enjoyed as a main course or a light snack.
Here’s a recipe for Bun Cha that you can try at home:
Ingredients:
For the pork meatballs:
- 1 pound ground pork
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
For the broth:
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
For the noodles and toppings:
- 8 oz dried rice vermicelli noodles
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup shredded cucumber
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 cup chopped mint
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, mix together the ground pork, garlic, fish sauce, sugar, salt, black pepper, and cornstarch until well combined. Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 inch in diameter.
- Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the meatballs until cooked through and slightly charred, about 10-12 minutes.
- While the meatballs are grilling, prepare the broth. In a medium saucepan, combine the chicken broth, fish sauce, sugar, garlic, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes.
- Cook the rice noodles according to package instructions, then drain and rinse with cold water.
- To assemble the dish, divide the cooked noodles among four bowls. Add a few meatballs to each bowl, along with some shredded carrots, cucumber, cilantro, mint, and green onions. Ladle the hot broth over the top, then sprinkle with chopped peanuts. Serve with lime wedges on the side.
Enjoy your delicious and authentic Vietnamese Bun Cha!
