If you were following, I posted a recipe on the @spooncommunity Instagram for making Vietnamese Pork and Noodles, aka Bún Thit Nướng, on May 12. It's relatively simple for an Asian dish, and it is very flavorful especially if you like the Vietnamese flavors of mint and fish sauce. It falls under the category of Vietnamese noodle dishes and you can explore more of those here. 

This dish has many variations, including different meats and sides, even sometimes being served with rice instead of on a bed of noodles. Whichever way you want to try this recipe, it will make you realize that although the restaurant atmosphere is likely nothing like that of your house, if another pandemic hit, you would be able to satisfy that Vietnamese craving like the cook that you are–borne out of boredom and constant hunger, but a cook no less!

Bún Thịt Nướng

  • Prep Time:1 hr 15 mins
  • Cook Time:1 hr
  • Total Time:2 hrs 15 mins
  • Servings:4
  • Medium

    Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs pork any flat piece
  • 3 tbsp shallots minced
  • 1 1/2 tbsp garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce
  • 1/2 tbsp pepper
  • 3 tbsp cooking oil
  • 1 package rice noodles cooked
  • 1/4 head green leaf lettuce cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/4 cup mint removed from stems
  • 1/2 cucumber sliced thinly
  • Pickled daikon & carrots [đồ chua] - made beforehand see Step 3
  • Scallion oil [mở hành]
  • Dipping fish sauce [nước chấm]
Stephanie Nguyen
  • Step 1

    Mix together shallots, garlic, sugar, fish sauce, dark soy sauce, pepper, and cooking oil in a large mixing bowl.

    Stephanie Nguyen
  • Step 2

    Add pork to mixing bowl and cover with a plastic wrap. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or as long as overnight.

    Stephanie Nguyen
  • Step 3

    If you are planning on marinating the pork for at least 12 hours, you can prepare the pickled daikon & carrots.

    Pickled daikon & carrots [đồ chua]
    1:1 ratio daikon and carrots, julienned - recommendation: 1/2 lb daikon 1/2 lb carrot for assured leftovers
    1/2 cup hot water + 5 tbsp sugar dissolved in
    1 cup water
    4 tbsp distilled vinegar

    Add a generous amount of salt to the mixture of julienned vegetables and let sit for 15 minutes. Then squeeze out the water from the vegetables and place it in a jar with the rest of the ingredients. This is best after 12-24 hours of marination. If you don't have this, it is simply a garnish that is not necessary.

  • Step 4

    While waiting for the pork to marinate, make the scallion oil mixture.

    Scallion oil [mở hành]
    4 stalks green onion, chopped thinly
    1/4 cup neutral oil
    Heat oil until a splash of water sizzles. Add scallion for 30 seconds, then turn off heat.

    vegetable, leek, spring onion, scallion, herb
    Kate Zizmor
  • Step 5

    The dipping fish sauce should also be made before the pork is ready to be cooked.

    Dipping fish sauce [nước chấm]
    6 tbsp water
    2 tbsp fish sauce
    2 tbsp lime juice
    2 tbsp sugar
    1 garlic clove, chopped
    1 thai chili, chopped thinly (optional)

    Mix all the ingredients together and adjust by taste.

    soup, ramen, noodle, pasta
    Rachel Dickey
  • Step 6

    Pork is ready to go! Bake the pork at 375° for 10-15 minutes, then broil for 3 minutes more. Flip the pork halfway during the broil period to get the best color and flavor.

    Stephanie Nguyen
  • Step 7

    Assemble! Place boiled noodles at the base of the bowl, then stack with lettuce. Place pork cut into strips, mint, cucumbers, and pickled daikon/carrot atop the base.

    Stephanie Nguyen
  • Step 8

    Drizzle with scallion oil and fish sauce to top it all off.

    Stephanie Nguyen
  • Step 9

    Enjoy!

    Stephanie Nguyen

As mentioned in my featured story, this Vietnamese Pork and Noodle recipe is not the most simple, but it's a popular dish and exciting to make when it all turns out. It's important to celebrate your culture and traditions, and cooking can be one way to do it, which is why this recipe came into fruition. Hope it makes its way into your kitchens too!