Grilled pork noodles is a delicacy loved by both domestic and international diners. Below, we will guide you on how to make Nha Trang grilled pork noodles, a prominent representative of Central Vietnamese cuisine, how to prepare the accompanying dipping sauce, and understand the calorie content of this dish.
Ingredients and preparation
Prepare the following ingredients and process them carefully:
– Ingredients for grilled pork noodles: 800g of shoulder blade, 30g of purple onion, 30g of garlic, 60g of green onions, 30g of lemongrass, 2 sweet chili peppers, 2 spicy chili peppers, 1 white radish, 1 carrot, 2 spoons of annatto oil, 2 spoons of honey, ½ cup unsweetened milk, 3 spoons of vinegar or lemon juice. Basic seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, soy sauce, MSG, five-spice powder.
Some basic ingredients to make grilled pork noodles
– Side dishes: Fresh noodles, cucumber, roasted peanuts, various herbs. You can also prepare Vietnamese pork roll or fish cake, and minced meat for spring rolls if you like.
– Choose pork shoulder or pork belly. Clean the meat, drain it, and then slice it to about 0.5cm thick.
– Put lemongrass, sweet chili, purple onion, and finely chopped garlic into a mortar and crush them.
– Shred the white radish and carrot to make pickles. Cut the green onions finely for scallion oil. Clean and chop the accompanying vegetables to a suitable size.
How to make grilled pork noodles
Step 1: Marinate the meat
Add the entire mixture of onions, garlic, lemongrass, and chili into the meat bowl. Continue to add the following seasonings: 2 tablespoons of annatto oil for color, 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of sugar, ½ teaspoon of MSG, 1/3 teaspoon of five-spice powder, half a cup of unsweetened fresh milk, 2 tablespoons of honey. If you don’t have honey, add another spoon of sugar.
Mix the meat with the mixture and marinate for at least 1 hour or refrigerate and marinate overnight.
Marinating the meat is one of the most crucial steps in making grilled pork noodles
Step 2: Skewer the meat
After marinating, you can use stainless steel or bamboo skewers to thread the meat pieces together.
It’s best to use 2 skewers for each piece for easier flipping
Step 3: Grill the meat
You can grill the meat in several ways, such as using an electric oven, an air fryer, or over charcoal.
If grilling over charcoal, every 30 seconds to 1 minute, turn the meat. Grill until the meat turns golden, tightens, and emits a pleasant aroma.
Grill until the meat is uniformly golden and aromatic
If using an air fryer, it’s even simpler: set the temperature to 180°C and cook for about 30 minutes.
Step 4: Prepare pickles
In a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 3 spoons of vinegar or lemon juice. Mix the solution well, then add in the shredded carrot and white radish. Wear gloves, then use your hands to massage the ingredients for 1-2 minutes so the carrot and radish absorb the sweet and sour taste. Let it sit for 1-2 hours before using.
Pickles are a simple step, but they should not be overlooked when making grilled pork noodles
Step 5: How to make dipping sauce for grilled pork noodles
Prepare the sauce by following a 1:1:1:1 ratio (fish sauce, sugar, cooled boiled water, lemon juice/vinegar). Using the grilled pork noodle recipe above, the accompanying dipping sauce can be made as follows:
– 3 tablespoons of fish sauce, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 3 tablespoons of cooled boiled water, and 3 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice. Stir well until the sugar dissolves completely. Add minced garlic and chili, and it’s ready..
The sweet and sour fish sauce for grilled pork noodles is prepared in a 1:1:1:1 ratio
Besides the fish sauce, you can make another type of sauce as follows:
Ingredients: 150g of pork or chicken liver, 2 spoons of soybean paste, 2 small spoons of starch, 4 minced garlic cloves, and 2 spoons of fish sauce.
After finely grinding the liver, transfer it to a bowl and mix with ingredients like fish sauce, garlic, and seasoning powder, and marinate for 20 minutes. Then, heat a pot on the stove, sauté the garlic until aromatic, and add the marinated liver mixture. Stir-fry until the liver tightens, then add a bowl of water and bring to a boil.
Dissolve the starch in a bowl with water and then pour it into the boiling broth. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes, adjust the seasonings to taste, then turn off the heat.
The sauce for grilled pork noodles is smooth, aromatic, and richly flavored
Step 6: Presentation and Enjoyment
To serve grilled pork noodles, start by placing the noodles in a bowl, adding sliced lettuce, bean sprouts, herbs, and pickled vegetables. Then, add the grilled meat on top, sprinkle some roasted peanuts, and add a spoonful of green onion oil. Lastly, pour the sweet and sour fish sauce over, mix well, and enjoy.
The visually appealing plate of grilled pork noodles is ready after following a few simple steps
How many calories are in grilled pork noodles?
If a bowl of grilled pork noodles contains 150g of fresh noodles, 50g of meat, a fried spring roll, a piece of fish cake or sausage, a spoon of green onion oil, and accompanying vegetables, it contains about 500 calories.
Eating grilled pork noodles combined with other nutrient-rich, low-calorie foods throughout the day won’t result in excess calorie intake
If you eat a bowl of grilled pork noodles daily and maintain a diverse and balanced diet with other foods, you don’t have to worry about gaining weight.
Above is the guide on how to make Central-style grilled pork noodles. It’s a delicacy loved by both domestic and international gourmets, yet the preparation is quite simple. If you have the time, showcase your culinary skills and let the whole family enjoy it together.