Vietnamese Pork Skewers Bun Cha 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 (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 PORK MEATBALLS WITH GINGER-LIME SAUCE

Steps:

• In a shallow bowl, combine the ginger, lime juice, and sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
• Add the fish sauce. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes before serving.
• Soak 16 wood skewers in water for 30 minutes.
• In a large bowl, combine pork, shallot, garlic, fish sauce, sugar, and black pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or for as long as overnight.
• Light a charcoal grill or turn a gas grill to medium-high. Spoon 2 teaspoons of oil onto a platter. Use the oil to coat your hands. Scoop up a tablespoon of the pork mixture and shape it into a tight ball. Set on the oiled plate. Repeat with the remaining pork. You should have 50 meatballs.
• Slide the balls onto skewers, placing 3 on each. When the coals are ready, place skewers on the grill and cook for 10 minutes without moving. Turn and continue cooking 10 more minutes or until the meat is cooked through.
• Transfer the meatballs to a serving dish, setting aside 6 skewers for the noodle dish.
• Wrap the meatballs in the lettuce leaves, top with carrots and cilantro leaves. Serve with the ginger-lime sauce.

VIETNAMESE PORK SKEWERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• In the bowl of a food processor, chop the pork, garlic, rice vinegar, lime zest, green onion and fish sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Shape into 10-cm (4-inch) long sausages and thread onto the skewers. Place on the baking sheet and bake in middle of the oven for about 15 minutes, turning the skewers halfway through the cooking. Once cooked, remove the skewers.
• Sauce: In a saucepan, bring all the ingredients to a boil. Serve at room temperature.
• When serving, place on the table: skewers, sauce, noodles, herbs and the detached lettuce leaves. Each person makes his own dish by placing some noodles, sausage and herbs on a lettuce leaf. Roll, dip into the sauce and enjoy.
• Makes 3 skewers per person.