Nem Nuong Barbecued Minced Pork Patties Food

NEM NUONG (VIETNAMESE GRILLED PORK PATTIES)

Steps:

• Using food processor, process garlic until finely pureed. Combine pork, garlic, salt, pepper and sugar in mixing bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine baking powder and water and stir. Mixture will bubble and foam. Add one drop of food coloring or caramel syrup (this adds color to the pork when grilled).
• Fold the baking powder into mixture and allow meat to chill for about 30 minutes to 1 hour or longer. The baking powder forms air bubbles and adds more bouncier or spongier texture.
• Refrigerate meat mixture a few hours to let it set for easier handling while forming patties, balls or flattened mini sausages. Keep a bowl of water handy and your hands wet for easy handling.
• Grill or pan fry about 4-5 minutes per side.
• Serve with Nuoc Cham and vermicelli (bean thread), if desired.
• To make Nuoc Cham: In a bowl, mash the garlic with the sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
• To make Bun Nem Noung: Place vermicelli in boiling water for about 6-8 minutes, stirring regularly to keep from sticking to the bottom of the pot. To check for doneness, take a strand and taste. It should be still slightly firm but easily breaks apart. Drain and flush with cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Combine vermicelli in bowls with nem nuong (pork patties), fresh herbs, pickled carrots and daikon, fried shallots and/or crushed roasted peanuts and dress with Nuoc Cham (sauce).

NEM NướNG (VIETNAMESE GRILLED PORK SKEWERS)

Steps:

• Blitz the garlic and shallots until fine.
• Add the mince into the food processor with the blitzed garlic and shallots and season with the chicken bouillon powder, salt, sugar, fish sauce and pepper.
• Blitz for 30 seconds or until it forms a paste. Take the paste out and put it in the freezer.
• Finely chop the pork fat.
• Combine 1 tsp sugar with the water and bring to a boil.
• Add the pork fat in and cook for 1 minute, then drain. Mix the pork fat with 1 tsp sugar until the sugar has dissolved.
• Heat up a saucepan on low heat and pour 4 tbsp oil in along with the annatto seeds. Cook for 3 miutes or until the oil has turned red, then drain and leave aside for later.Note: If you prefer a redder Nem Nướng, use more annatto seeds and oil.
• In the food processor, add the frozen mince along with the chicken bouillon powder, 1 tsp sugar, fish sauce, baking soda, potato starch and crushed ice cubes. Blitz for 1 minute or until it resembles a smooth paste.
• Add the first batch of blitzed mince in with the annatto seed oil and blitz for 2 minutes or until well combined, then transfer into a large mixing bowl.
• Combine the mixed paste with the pork fat.
• Make the glaze by mixing together the oil, honey, fish sauce and water. Set aside for later.
• Grab a small handful of Nem Nướng paste and squeeze it around a skewer until it is smooth and has covered 3/4 of its length from the tip down. Try to make them roughly 1 1/2 cm (0.6") thick, otherwise the center will take too long to cook.Tip: Use gloves lightly coated with oil so the mixture doesn't stick to your hands.
• If you're oven grilling the skewers, spread them out on an oven-safe tray lined with foil.
• Cook them on a grill, oven or an oiled pan for 10 minutes, then brush the glaze over them and cook for another 2 minutes or until completely cooked. Make sure to rotate each skewer for an even grill.
• Serve immediately as is with fresh salad and a Vietnamese dipping sauce!

NEM NUONG -- VIETNAMESE PORK PATTIES

Steps:

• To prepare the rice powder, soak 75g glutinous rice in warm water for an hour.
• drain and dry and then throw into a hot pan.
• Stir over a low heat for about 15 minutes or until golden in colour.
• Reduce to a fine powder in a food processor or coffee grinder -- it will keep for up to 3 months.
• Mix the pork and pork fat with the shallot, garlic and fish sauce.
• Season with salt and pepper and bind with 1 tbsp rice powder.
• Leave to rest in the fridge for 1/2 hour.
• Grease your hands with a little oil and then form the pork into small rounds or sausage shapes.
• Grill over a medium charcoal fire or under a preheated grill for about 15 minutes.
• Turn as needed to brown on all sides.
• Serve on a bed of lettuce, cucumber, spring onions and herbs.
• Dip in nuoc cham.