Vietnamese Pork Meatball Bowls

 

Ingredients

For the meatballs

  • 1 ½ tbsp soft sugar
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 shallots peeled and roughly chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves
  • 500 g (1 pound) ground pork (pork mince)
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil to pan fry

For the Noodle Bowls

  • 300 g (10.5oz) rice noodles
  • 1 small lettuce 
  • 1 small cucumber 
  • 2 carrots grated
  • large handful fresh mint
  • large handful cilantro

Instructions 

MAKE THE DIPPING SAUCE (Nuoc Cham)

  • Put the sugar in a bowl and pour hot water over it. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved.

  • Add the fish sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, finely chopped chili and garlic.

  • Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature (or you can store in an airtight container in the fridge until needed).

PREPARE THE MEATBALLS

  • Blitz the fish sauce, sugar, shallots, garlic and mint in a food processor to make a paste.

  • Add the paste to the ground pork and mix well to combine. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 1-3 hours.

  • Form 20-24 small meatballs (I used a cookie scoop) and then flatten the slightly with your hands to form a little patties.

COOK THE MEATBALLS

  • Heat oil in a pan and fry the patties for about 2 minutes per side, until golden.

  • You can also air fry the meatballs at 200°C (400°F) for about 3-5 minutes per side, misting them with a little oil first.

ASSEMBLE THE NOODLE BOWLS

  • Place the rice noodles in a pot, cover with boiling water and leave them to soften for 8-10 minutes, or according to pack instructions. Rinse with cold water and drain well. Divide the noodles between four bowls.

  • Add the cucumber, carrots, lettuce and fresh herbs.

  • Top with the meatballs and a generous amount of the dipping sauce and serve.

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