Bun Cha Grilled Vietnamese Pork Skewered Food

BUN CHA - GRILLED VIETNAMESE PORK SKEWERED RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine the honey, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, garlic, spring onions, oyster sauce, salt and pepper, mixing well.
• Add the pork, coating the slices well. Cover and marinate for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, start the barbecue fire. Soak the bamboo skewers.
• When ready to eat, thread the meat strips on the skewers.
• Don't be tempted to overload the skewers; skewers which are too generous will char on the outside by the time the inside is cooked.
• Grill over medium-hot coals for 3 to 4 minutes, brushing the meat with the marinate.
• When browned and cooked, remove from the fire and serve.

BUN CHA

Steps:

• For the grilled pork patties and pork belly: Turn on a kitchen exhaust fan or open a nearby window. Things are about to get smoky! Combine the sugar and 1 tablespoon of water in a medium saucepan and set over medium heat. Stir gently until the sugar dissolves. Cook until the sugar mixture darkens to a deep, dark brown hue similar to soy sauce and the mixture is smoking, 5 to 7 minutes; swirl the pan as needed to ensure even cooking.
• Immediately turn off the heat and remove the saucepan from the hot stovetop. Carefully add 2 tablespoons of water to the saucepan (the mixture may sputter). Use a heat-safe rubber spatula to stir the caramel until completely smooth. Transfer the caramel to a medium heat-safe bowl and allow to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. It will thicken as it cools.
• Meanwhile, put the ground pork and the pork belly into 2 separate medium bowls.
• Stir the fish sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, shallots, lemongrass, bouillon and black pepper into the caramel until well combined. Add 6 tablespoons of the sauce to the ground pork then add the remaining sauce to the pork belly. Use your hands to mix each meat with the sauce until well combined. Refrigerate each for at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours. (Do not refrigerate overnight or the meat will get too salty.)
• Scoop the marinated ground pork into 18 portions (about a scant 1/4 cup each), placing each on a large baking sheet. Roll each portion into a ball then flatten into a 1/2-inch-thick patty about 2 inches wide.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 250 degrees F. Preheat an outdoor grill or a large 2-burner cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly grease the grill grates or grill pan with oil. Working in batches if needed, cook the pork patties until charred and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side, rotating the meat as needed to ensure even cooking. Transfer the cooked patties to a clean baking sheet.
• Reduce the heat slightly (between medium and medium-high). Working in batches if needed, cook the pork belly until charred and cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes per side, rotating the meat as needed to ensure even cooking. Place the cooked pork belly to the same baking sheet as the pork patties and place in the oven to keep warm while you make the dipping sauce.
• For the dipping sauce: Combine the sugar and 1 1/4 cups water in a medium saucepan. Set over medium heat and cook until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is hot and starts to steam, about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and add 1/2 cup cold water, the fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, carrot, green papaya and chiles. Stir to combine.
• For serving: Divide the vermicelli among 6 individual serving bowls. Place the lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber, cilantro and mint on a platter.
• Divide the pork patties and pork belly between 6 medium serving bowls or plates. Pour 1/2 cup of the warm sauce over the meat in each bowl. Serve each diner a bowl of pork and a small bowl of noodles. Pass the platter of vegetables and herbs. To eat, dip the noodles, herbs and vegetables into the warm sauce. Alternatively, you can hand tear the lettuce and herbs and add them to the sauce along with the other vegetables before dipping in the noodles, or enjoy the dish anyway you like.

VIETNAMESE PORK SKEWERS ~ BUN CHA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine shallots, garlic, and lemongrass. Stir in fish sauce, sugar, 3 tablespoons sunflower oil, and pepper.
• Pat meat dry with paper towels, remove the layer of fat and cut meat into 1/2-inch thick (12-mm) slices. Add pork to the marinade and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to overnight.
• Thread marinated pork onto four skewers, leaving some space between each slice.
• In a skillet over medium heat, heat some sunflower oil and cook pork until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), about 30 minutes, turning every 5 minutes. Alternatively, cook them directly on a grill, over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes.
• While the pork is cooking, fill a large saucepan with 4 1/4 cups cold water. Add noodles, a pinch of salt, and bring to a boil. Cook according to package directions. Turn off heat, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander, then rinse in cold water.
• Serve skewers with noodles, lettuce, tia to, mint, cucumbers, pickled carrots, pickled onions, cilantro, and spring roll dipping sauce.

BUN CHA (VIETNAMESE PORK MEATBALL AND NOODLE SALAD)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the sugar with 3 tablespoons water and cook over high heat until a dark brown caramel forms, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 2 tablespoons cold water, swirling the pot.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the pork, shallot, fish sauce, caramel sauce, and pepper, and marinate in the refrigerator for 90 minutes to six hours.
• Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the sauce in a large mixing bowl.
• When the pork is through marinating, remove from the refrigerator and shape into small patties, about 15 to 20 in all. Heat a charcoal grill or a broiler to high. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the directions on their package. Drain, then rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process.
• Meanwhile, grill or broil the pork patties until fully cooked and slightly charred, about 4 minutes per side.
• Spoon the sauce into four bowls, then place the pork patties over the sauce. Place the herbs and lettuce in one large communal bowl and the noodles into another large communal bowl. To eat, dip some of the noodles into the sauce and eat with the patties and herbs.

VIETNAMESE BUN CHA GIO

Steps:

• Freeze the pork for 30 minutes to firm it up. Then cut each chop in half length-wise and thinly slice. If already frozen, thaw half way before slicing.
• Mix the next five ingredients and toss with pork in a bowl. Allow the pork to marinate for 30 minutes.
• For the nouc cham, mix the warm water and sugar in a small bowl. Stir until the sugar in dissolved. Then add the following six ingredients; set aside.
• Preheat the oven to the necessary temperature provided on the spring roll package. Drizzle a little oil on a cookie sheet and roll the frozen spring rolls in it. Cook the spring rolls according to the provided instructions. Heat a large wok or skillet to high heat. Drain the pork well. Add 1 tablespoon of peanut oil to the wok. Stir fry the pork for 1-3 minutes. Chop the spring rolls into 1/2 inch pieces.
• To plate: Place a large hand-full of noodles in the bottom of four bowls. Top each with sprouts, shredded carrots, cucumbers, cilantro and green onions. Place the pork and spring rolls on top; sprinkle with chopped peanuts. Serve with nuoc cham on the side.

BUN (VIETNAMESE HERB NOODLE SALAD)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat and add the noodles; let sit for 2 minutes.
• Remove noodles from hot water and shock them by placing them in a bowl of ice water. Drain in a colander.
• Place the noodles onto a serving bowl and cover with the cucumber, scallions and herbs. Garnish with black pepper, garlic and peanuts.
• Before serving, pour the Nuac Cham sauce over all and toss before serving.

BUN CHA (VIETNAMESE PORK MEATBALL AND NOODLE SALAD)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the sugar with 3 tablespoons water and cook over high heat until a dark brown caramel forms, about 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and add 2 tablespoons cold water, swirling the pot.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the pork, shallot, fish sauce, caramel sauce, and pepper, and marinate in the refrigerator for 90 minutes to six hours.
• Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the sauce in a large mixing bowl.
• When the pork is through marinating, remove from the refrigerator and shape into small patties, about 15 to 20 in all. Heat a charcoal grill or a broiler to high. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles according to the directions on their package. Drain, then rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process.
• Meanwhile, grill or broil the pork patties until fully cooked and slightly charred, about 4 minutes per side.
• Spoon the sauce into four bowls, then place the pork patties over the sauce. Place the herbs and lettuce in one large communal bowl and the noodles into another large communal bowl. To eat, dip some of the noodles into the sauce and eat with the patties and herbs.

CHINESE BARBECUED PORK BUN (CHA SIU BOW)

Steps:

• Mix together the warm water, 1/2 teaspoons sugar and yeast in an 8 oz. measuring cup. Let stand until it rises to the 8 oz. level (about 20 minutes).
• Sift flour, cake flour, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl. Add shortening, yeast mixture and milk. Knead mixture 5 minutes to form a dough.
• Cover with a damp cloth and set dough in a warm place. Allow the dough to rise for 3 hours.
• Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan and stir-fry pork for 2 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons water, salt, sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce and hoisin sauce. Bring it to a boil.
• Mix the cornstarch and 4 tablespoons cold water. Stir into the mixture and cook for 1 minute until thickened. Let cool before making the buns.
• After 3 hours, when the dough has risen, shape into rolls about 2 inches in diameter. Cut each roll into 1-1/2 inch pieces. Shape each piece into a shallow bowl shape. Put 1 tablespoon filling in the center, close and twist dough to form a bun.
• Put the bun on a 2 inch square of white paper. (This prevents the bun from becoming soggy while steaming.) Place 8 buns at a time in a pie pan and allow them to set and rise for 15 minutes in a warm place.
• Steam for 25 minutes.