Vermicelli noodle grilled pork is one of the iconic dishes of Southern Vietnamese cuisine, especially in Saigon. The dish is appealing because of the harmonious blend of the rich sweetness of the grilled pork, the sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors of the fish sauce, and the refreshing coolness of the fresh vegetables.
It’s a familiar dish for lunch, dinner, or weekend family gatherings. Not only delicious, but vermicelli noodle grilled pork also provides complete nutrition – from protein in the meat, fiber in the vegetables, to carbohydrates from the vermicelli, helping the body stay energized.
I. Signature flavor
- Flavor: The vermicelli noodle grilled pork is rich and fragrant with lemongrass, and the dipping sauce is a sweet, sour, and slightly spicy blend of fish sauce. The combination of fresh vegetables and pickles creates a harmonious and appetizing overall taste.
- Preparation method: The meat is marinated thoroughly with lemongrass. Add onions, fish sauce, and sugar, then grill over charcoal until golden brown on both sides. The dish is served with rice noodles, fresh vegetables, pickles, and a garlic chili fish sauce.
- Serving suggestion: Rice noodles are placed at the bottom. Then add grilled meat, spring rolls, or fried spring rolls, and drizzle with sweet and sour fish sauce. When eating, mix well to experience the blend of rich, salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors.
II. How many calories are in vermicelli noodle grilled pork?
Vermicelli noodle grilled pork is a dish that provides many nutrients to the body, including carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, and various vitamins. A serving of vermicelli noodle grilled pork can range from 451 to 556 calories, depending on the quantity. This calorie level is quite high. Therefore, if you are on a diet, you need to limit your consumption or eat it in small amounts and exercise more regularly.
III. How to make vermicelli noodle grilled pork
1. The secret to choosing the perfect grilled pork
For the best pork, choose pork belly or shoulder cuts with some fat to prevent them from drying out during grilling. The meat should be bright pink and free of any strange odors.
When marinating, use chopped lemongrass, shallots, fish sauce, and sugar. You can also add honey and oyster sauce for a more vibrant color and richer flavor. If you have time, marinate for at least an hour before grilling to allow the flavors to penetrate.
Buy the ingredients now to make vermicelli noodle grilled pork.
2. Detailed instructions on how to make simple grilled pork vermicelli
- Pork shoulder or belly: 500g
- Fresh rice noodles: 1kg
- Lettuce: 100g
- Herbs: 100g
- Bean sprouts: 100g
- Cucumber: 1
- Chopped lemongrass: 3 stalks
- Red onions: 2 bulbs
- Minced garlic: 2 cloves
- Good quality fish sauce: 3 tablespoons
- Sugar: 2 tablespoons
- Oyster sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Coconut coloring: 1/4 tablespoon
- Cooking oil: 2 tablespoons
- Chopped chili: to taste
- Peanuts: 30g
3. Steps to follow
1. Pre-processing the ingredients
- Washing the pork with diluted salt water, then rinse thoroughly, drain, and cut it into small slices about 0.5cm thick.
- Peel and wash the shallots and garlic, then chop them finely. Wash the lemongrass and slice it thinly.
- Remove the seeds from the chili peppers and chop them finely. Put all the ingredients into a mortar and pestle or blender and grind or blend until smooth. Reserve some of the minced garlic and chili peppers for the fish sauce.
- Peel and shred the white radish and carrots.
- Wash the scallions and chop them finely.
- Wash and drain the accompanying vegetables, then chop them finely.
2. Marinate the meat
Add the mixture of shallots, garlic, lemongrass, and chili peppers to the meat along with 2 tablespoons of annatto oil, 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of sugar, ½ teaspoon of MSG, 1/3 teaspoon of five-spice powder, unsweetened fresh milk, and 2 tablespoons of honey.
Mix everything well, let the meat absorb the seasoning, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. Roast
Using charcoal: Skewer the meat onto bamboo or stainless steel skewers. Then place the skewers on a grill and put it over the charcoal fire. Note that you should brush a layer of cooking oil on the grill to prevent sticking.
During grilling, continuously turn the meat (about every 30 seconds to 1 minute) so that it cooks evenly without burning.
Using an oven: Skewer the meat onto bamboo or stainless steel skewers. Then place them on a baking tray and bake in the oven at 200°C for 15-17 minutes.
Using an air fryer: Skewer the meat onto bamboo or stainless steel skewers. Then place them in the air fryer, lining the bottom with aluminum foil and brushing with a layer of cooking oil.
Next, place the skewers evenly on the grill, avoiding stacking them. Set the temperature to 200°C, cook for 10 minutes, then open, flip, and cook for another 10 minutes until the meat is cooked through.
Using a pan: Line the bottom of the pan with aluminum foil, turn on the stove and heat it up. Then arrange the meat in the pan, cook until golden brown, then flip and cook until both sides are evenly cooked.
4. Making spring rolls
Besides grilled pork, you can add spring rolls as a topping for your grilled pork vermicelli dish. The crispy outer layer and sweet, fragrant filling will surely satisfy you with your bowl of grilled pork vermicelli.
5. Make pickles to serve as a side dish.
In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of sugar and 3 tablespoons of vinegar, stirring well. Then add the shredded carrots and white radish to the bowl and mix thoroughly to coat the ingredients with the seasoning.
6. How to make dipping sauce for grilled pork vermicelli
In a bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 3 tablespoons of water, and 3 tablespoons of vinegar. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Next, add the minced garlic and chili peppers and stir well.
7. Making scallion oil
Pour ½ cup of cooking oil into a pot, heat it on the stove, then add the chopped scallions and mix well.
8. Present and enjoy.
Place the vegetables at the bottom, then add the rice noodles, followed by the meat, spring rolls, pickled vegetables, roasted peanuts, and fried shallots. Finally, pour in the fish sauce, mix well, and enjoy.
IV. Essential Tips
- You can omit MSG and five-spice powder from your meat marinade.
- If you don’t have honey, you can substitute it with 3 tablespoons.
- Marinating meat with unsweetened fresh milk will help it become tender, juicy, and retain its moisture.
- Alternatively, you can marinate it with fruit juice, such as pear, apple, or orange juice… this will give the meat a natural sweetness and aroma. Ideally, squeeze the juice of one ripe orange gently and add it to the meat. This will prevent the grilled meat from drying out and becoming tough, ensuring it remains very tender.
- Marinate the meat for at least 1 hour or overnight and keep it in the refrigerator.
- You can replace the vinegar in the fish sauce seasoning with lemon juice.
- When grilling over charcoal, avoid using a very large flame, as this will cause the meat to char on the outside while remaining undercooked on the inside.
- When grilling in an air fryer, spread the meat out evenly; don’t stack the skewers on top of each other, as this will prevent the meat from cooking evenly.
- When grilling meat in a pan, you should replace the aluminum foil after each grilling session.
- How to choose fresh and delicious pork: Choose pork shoulder for a tender, non-tough texture after grilling.
- Good pork shoulder usually has a thick layer of meat with a little fat mixed in. You should choose pieces with a dry, non-sticky outer membrane, bright, firm fat, and even muscle fibers. The meat should be bright pink and free of any strange odors to ensure freshness.
- How to choose fresh, delicious rice noodles: You should choose noodles that are slightly cloudy, off-white, and sticky to the touch. Avoid noodles with an unpleasant sour smell, and those that are translucent and shiny. When eaten, good rice noodles will have a fragrant rice aroma and a chewy texture.
V. Conclusion
With the above recipe for delicious and flavorful grilled pork vermicelli, a dish that embodies the essence of Vietnamese cuisine, you’ll have a tasty meal ready in no time.
Not only is it a great family dish, but you can also successfully start a grilled pork vermicelli business. If you want to learn more secrets to making grilled pork vermicelli, please fill out the form below for more detailed advice.
Read More: R5 Grilled Pork
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