Vietnamese Style Pork Chops With Fresh Herb Salad Food

VIETNAMESE PORK CHOPS (SườN NướNG)

Steps:

• Rinse pork chops under running water and lightly scrub with salt. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Combine all marinade ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir to combine and dissolve sugar and MSG. Then add the Marinade Aromatics.
• Marinade the pork chops in a bowl or bag in the fridge for at least 3 hours, but ideally overnight.
• Remove the chops from the marinade and discard the extra liquid--you can keep the aromatics on that stuck to the chops though.

VIETNAMESE PORK SALAD

Steps:

• For the pork: In a large bowl, combine the lemon grass, garlic, brown sugar, fish sauce, chili and 1 tablespoon water. Add pork chops, turn to coat well, and let sit for at least 30 minutes or up to three hours.
• For the dressing: In a small bowl, combine lime juice, fish sauce, garlic, chili and 1/2 cup water. Mix well. Dressing should be strong but not overwhelming; if desired, add up to 1/4 cup more water.
• Heat a grill or grill pan over high heat. Remove pork chops from marinade, brush off lemon grass and pat dry with paper towels. Place pork chops on grill or in pan and brown well, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes a side. Remove from heat and let rest about 5 minutes. Cut into thin slices and set aside.
• For serving: Cook rice noodles according to package instructions and rinse under cold water. Drain, and mix in bowl with romaine, pomelo or grapefruit, carrots, cucumbers, mint and cilantro. Toss to mix. Add dressing and toss again. Top with pork and garnish with peanuts. Serve at room temperature.

LEMONGRASS PORK WITH VIETNAMESE TABLE SALAD

Steps:

• For dipping sauce:
• Mix all ingredients in small bowl. Season sauce to taste with salt. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• For pork:
• Mix first 6 ingredients and 2 tablespoons oil in 11x7-inch glass dish. Add pork chops to marinade, turn several times to coat evenly, then crowd together in single layer. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• For salad and noodles:
• Arrange cucumber, pineapple, bean sprouts, all herbs, and carrot around edge of large platter. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover; chill.)
• Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender and turning white, separating often with tongs, about 4 minutes. Drain. Arrange in center of platter. Mound lettuce leaves in large shallow bowl.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush grill rack with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Grill pork with marinade still clinging to meat until slightly charred and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Transfer pork to cutting board. Let rest 10 minutes.
• Cut pork crosswise into 1/3-inch-wide strips. Place pork and any juices from board atop noodles. To serve, fill lettuce leaves with pork, noodles, herbs, and vegetables. Serve with sauce for dipping.

VIETNAMESE-STYLE PORK

Steps:

• Whisk lemongrass, garlic, honey and nam pla in large bowl. Add lime juice and pepper. Place pork in the bowl, turning to coat; let stand while you preheat grill or broiler.
• Grill or broil pork, spooning marinade over as it cooks, until nicely done, about 10 minutes. Turn only once so that each side browns nicely. Serve with remaining lime and, if you like, the herb garnish.