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Vietnamese Pork Balls on Rice Noodles


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Christina Soong-Kroeger
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4
  • Diet: Omnivore, Gluten-Free

Description

Flavorful pork meatballs are served over rice noodles with fresh herbs and a zesty dressing. A quick weeknight meal.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 14 oz (400 g) minced pork
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1.5 tsp sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 0.25 tsp white pepper
  • 1 packet rice vermicelli noodles
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 small bag bean sprouts
  • 1 bunch mint
  • 1 bunch coriander
  • 1 bunch Vietnamese mint (laksa leaves)
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil
  • 4 tbsp fried shallots
  • 4 tbsp crushed, roasted peanuts
  • 1 cups (237 ml) water
  • 1.5 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1.5 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp (15 ml) lime or lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 1 Birds Eye chilli
  • Pinch finely shredded carrot

Instructions

  1. Mix pork, fish sauce, sugar, 1 clove garlic and white pepper until combined. Form into 16 small balls using your hands and place on a plate. Refrigerate.
  2. Cook noodles according to package instructions.
  3. Peel and cut cucumber and carrots into matchsticks. Wash and drain bean sprouts and fresh herbs. Arrange on a large plate and refrigerate.
  4. Heat a large fry pan and add vegetable oil. Add pork balls and cook for a few minutes on all sides until the outside is caramelized and the inside is cooked through.
  5. While the pork balls are cooking, make the dressing: In a medium bowl, combine water, fish sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, lime juice, sweet chilli sauce, chilli, 1 clove garlic, and carrot. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust flavour as needed.
  6. Divide the dressing into 4 small serving bowls.
  7. To serve, divide noodles between four bowls and top with four pork balls each. Garnish with fried shallots and peanuts (if desired) and serve with the vegetable platter and dressing.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, marinate the pork mixture for at least 30 minutes before forming the meatballs.
  • If you don’t have all the fresh herbs listed, use what you have available – the dish will still be delicious!
  • Leftovers can be stored separately (meatballs and noodles) in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stir-Frying
  • Cuisine: Vietnamese

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 15
  • Sodium: 800
  • Fat: 25
  • Saturated Fat: 8
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15
  • Carbohydrates: 50
  • Fiber: 5
  • Protein: 30
  • Cholesterol: 100