VIETNAMESE GRILLED MEATS WITH NOODLES (HA NOI BUN CHA)

Ha noi bun cha is a traditional Vietnamese dish found in fancy restaurants and street vendors alike. It consists of marinated and grilled meats that are served with rice vermicelli, veggies, and dipping sauce. This is a great way to introduce the fam to traditional Vietnamese cuisine! 

INGREDIENTS:

3 ½ oz lean bacon, cut into ¾” thick pieces  
3 ½ oz minced pork, shaped into small balls 
2 tsp mushroom or chicken bouillon 
1 ½ tsp honey
1 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp chopped spring onion 
2 tsp chopped garlic 
2 tbsp soybean oil 

Dipping Sauce 
1 tbsp sugar 
3 tbsp warm water 
1 tbsp fish sauce 
¼ tsp salt 

For Serving 
Cooked rice vermicelli noodles
Sweet chili sauce
Shredded carrot
Green papaya or kohlrabi, cut into flowers and pickled in a bit of rice vinegar, salt, and sugar

Tools 
Large skillet
Cutting board 
Knife
Instant read thermometer

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 tsp bouillon, 1 tsp honey, 1 tsp chopped green onion, 1 tsp chopped garlic, and 1 tbsp soybean oil. 
2. Add the lean bacon and let marinate for about 10 minutes. 
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 tsp bouillon, 1 tsp fish sauce, ½ tsp honey, 1 tsp garlic, and 1 tbsp soybean oil. 
4. Add the pork meatballs and let marinate for about 10 minutes.
5. While the meats are marinating, preheat the grill or a large skillet. Grill the lean bacon and pork meatballs until golden brown and cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.  
6. For the dipping sauce, whisk together the sugar, warm water, fish sauce, and salt, until the sugar has dissolved. 
7. Serve the grilled meats with lettuce leaves, fresh herbs, cooked rice noodles, shredded carrots, pickled green papaya, sweet chili sauce, and dipping sauce.