Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 42 votes

Authentic Bun Cha - Vietnamese Grilled Pork Meatballs with Noodles

Vietnamese Grilled Pork Meatballs with Vermicelli Noodles (Bun Cha) is a classic Northern Vietnamese dish. Bun Cha features flavorful and juicy pork meatballs, vermicelli noodles, plenty of refreshing herbs and traditional lime fish sauce dipping.

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
1 hr 40 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 536 kcal
Course: Main Course , Soup
Cuisine: Vietnamese

Ingredients

For the pork meatballs
  • 1 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 4 1/2 tablespoons water, divided
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic 
  • 1/4 cup minced shallots
  • 2-3 lemongrass stalks, white part only, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 teaspoons oyster sauce
  • black pepper
For the dipping sauce
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic 
  • thinly sliced carrots and/or green papaya (optional)
Other ingredients
  • vermicelli noodles
  • butter lettuce (or other soft lettuce)
  • cilantro
  • mint

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a small saucepan, add 1/4 cup of sugar and 3 tablespoons of water. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium, continue to simmer. You will see a lot of bubbles on the surface. The mixture will then turn from clear to yellow, and get darker as you simmer it. Reduce the heat if needed. Keep watching closely, until it has a slightly dark caramel color, turn off the heat and carefully add 1 1/2 tablespoons of water. Swirl the saucepan to combine and remove it from the stove. Set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl, add the ground pork, caramel sauce and all other ingredients for the pork meatballs. Mix for a couple of minutes to combine thoroughly. Set aside for 10-15 minutes or marinate in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours for tastier results.
  3. To make the dipping sauce, whisk together lime juice, sugar, water, and fish sauce in a bowl. Adjust to taste. Add garlic, and add thinly sliced carrots and green papaya if using. Set aside.
  4. Prepare vermicelli noodles according to package instructions. Prepare lettuce and fresh herbs.
  5. Heat the grill pan (or preheat gas grill/charcoal grill if that's what you use to cook the meatballs). Shape the marinated pork into small meatballs. Once the pan is hot, grill them in a single layer until fully cooked.
  6. Put the grilled meatballs in the the dipping sauce, serve immediately with noodles, lettuce and herbs.

Notes

  • Bun Cha Hanoi is often on the sweet side a little bit, so adjust seasonings to your liking.

Nutrition Information

Calories 536kcal (27%) Carbohydrates 22g (7%) Protein 30g (60%) Fat 36g (55%) Saturated Fat 13g (65%) Cholesterol 122mg (41%) Sodium 1772mg (74%) Potassium 594mg (17%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 18g (36%) Vitamin C 7mg (8%) Calcium 42mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 536

% Daily Value*

Calories 536kcal 27%
Carbohydrates 22g 7%
Protein 30g 60%
Fat 36g 55%
Saturated Fat 13g 65%
Cholesterol 122mg 41%
Sodium 1772mg 74%
Potassium 594mg 13%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 18g 36%
Vitamin C 7mg 8%
Calcium 42mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.