Bún Chả Recipe

If there were a dish that all Hanoiains cherish, bún chả (Vietnamese grilled pork meatballs and noodles) would be that one. This Northern Vietnamese delicacy is a true culinary gem, combining meatballs flavored and cooked to perfection, vermicelli noodles, a mouth-watering fish sauce dip, and various herbs.

While the savory dip and succulent meatballs create unmatched savoriness, the aromatic herbs balance the flavor and keep the dish from being “too meaty.” And there are also vermicelli noodles, which play an important role in binding everything together.

If you haven’t given this dish a try before, there’s no better time to do so than today. Scroll down for a detailed and easy-to-follow recipe!

Exploring Bún Chả: A Hanoi Special

Bún chả is a popular Vietnamese dish from Hanoi, dating back to at least the late 19th century. The first restaurant to serve this dish was in Hoan Kiem District, situated in Pho Co (Hanoi’s Old Quarter).

It has been a beloved staple for generations and remains a favorite among locals and visitors. Typically prepared on charcoal grills, it is a common street food known for its smoky flavor.

The dish features grilled pork, rice vermicelli noodles, and fresh herbs. The pork is prepared in two ways: marinated, grilled pork belly slices, and savory pork patties.

These are served with a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili. Fresh herbs like mint, cilantro, and perilla leaves, along with pickled vegetables, add a refreshing touch.

Eating bún chả is a customizable experience. Diners can mix and match the components according to their preferences, adding as much or as little of the noodles, herbs, and dipping sauce as they like to create their perfect bite.

People often mix up bún chả and bún thịt nướng, both Vietnamese dishes with grilled pork and vermicelli; let’s explore what makes them different.

Bún Chả Vs. Bún Thịt Nướng

Below are the key differences between bún chả and bún thịt nướng:

Everything is clear, so now let’s move to the tools required to the recipe.

Which Tools Do You Need to Prepare Bún Chả?

Before getting to the actual recipe of bún chả, check your kitchen for the following cookware first:

What Ingredients Are Essential for Bún Chả?

After getting the tool list down, it’s time to move on to the ingredients. Here is what you need to prepare:

For Serving

How to Prepare Bún Chả at Home?

Without further ado, let’s start cooking the famous Vietnamese bún chả. Follow the steps closely for the best result.

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Rinse and drain the vegetables and herbs.

Finely cut the lemongrass, shallots, and garlic. Then, blend them together with 0.5 cups of water using a food processor.

Put on the food prep gloves and squeeze the lemongrass mixture over a sieve to extract the juice.

Step 2: Marinate The Pork

Slice 10.5 ounces of pork belly into bite-sized strips (avoid cutting it too thin). Season the meat with:

Mix well and marinate for at least 15 minutes.

Season the ground pork with the remaining lemongrass juice and the exact same spices. Mix well and let it rest for at least 15 minutes.

Step 3: Prepare the Pickles

Cut the carrot, kohlrabi, and green papaya into pieces, then slice them finely. You can also cut them into flower shapes if you want.

Season them with 2 teaspoons of sugar and 2 teaspoons of salt. Marinate for 15 minutes to improve their crispness.

Combine 10 tablespoons of vinegar with 2.5 ounces of sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, then let it cool.

Step 4: Shape and Grill the Meatballs

After the ingredients have been well-marinated, preheat your oven to 400°F. This step ensures a staple cooking temperature, helping the meat to cook more evenly.

Brush or spray a little cooking on the grilling tray to prevent the pork from sticking to it.

Shape the marinated ground pork into flat, round meatballs. Press the pork using your palm to get it into the perfect shape. Repeat until you run out of ground meat.

Once done, place the meatballs onto the grilling tray. Spray some oil on the meatballs to keep them from drying out.

Grill the meatballs for 12 minutes at 400°F.

Step 5: Grill the Pork

While waiting for the meatballs to cook, thread the pork pieces into the skewers.

Once you’ve finished cooking the meatballs, remove them from the oven, and it’s time to put the pork skewers in the oven!

Spray a little oil on the pork’s surface to prevent them from drying out. Then, grill them for 12 minutes at 400°F.

Once done grilling, transfer the pork and meatballs to a clean pot and cover it with a lid or aluminum foil.

Step 6: Make the Dipping Sauce

Combine the following ingredients in a small bowl:

Stir well, then add garlic, chili pepper, and juice of 1 or ½ a lime. Do a taste test and adjust the spices to your liking.

In addition, you can also serve your bún chả with Vietnamese traditional dipping sauce (Nuoc Cham). Making this dip requires a bit more work, though.

Step 7: Finish Making the Pickles

Put on a pair of food prep gloves. Squeeze the pickled vegetables to remove the excess liquid. Then, pour the vinegar and sugar dressing over the veggies.

Step 8: Serve the Dish

Place the pork skewers and meatballs on a plate next to the vermicelli noodles, pickled vegetables, and herbs.

When serving, spoon the dipping sauce into a bowl together with the pork, meatballs, and pickles. Enjoy them with the noodles and herbs on the side.

How to Eat Bún Chả the Vietnamese Way?

Now that you’ve completed cooking bún chả, let’s learn how to enjoy it like a true Hanoian. First and foremost, as with most Vietnamese dishes, you should eat them using chopsticks. These utensils are considered an essential tool in Vietnamese cuisine, so I highly recommend learning how to use them.

When it comes to serving this dish, there are typically two ways. The first way, which is also the more common one, is to pick up some noodles, dip them in the sauce, then enjoy them with meatballs and herbs.

Another way is to add the noodles, meatballs, and herbs into a serving bowl, then pour in some sauce. This is somewhat similar to how the Vietnamese normally eat bún thịt nướng.

In addition, the locals love to order some chả giò (Vietnamese egg rolls) to eat with their bún chả. The crispy rolls go really well with the savory dip and vermicelli noodles, so you should definitely give them a try!

What’s the Proper Way to Store Bún Chả?

Bún chả consists of four main components: the dipping sauce, the vermicelli noodles, the grilled pork and meatballs, and the pickles. For the longest shelf life, you should store them in different airtight containers.

If you’re using dried noodles, it’s best that you store them as instructed on the package (provided that you haven’t cooked them yet). For blanched or fresh noodles, put them in a box or container and refrigerate. They last about 2 to 3 days.

Likewise, place the grilled pork and meatballs in a container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. If you want, you can also freeze them for up to 3 months.

Since the dipping sauce doesn’t take a long time to make, I often make a new batch before eating. But if you need to store it, simply pour it into a sealed glass jar, then refrigerate. It will generally last for about 2 weeks.

As for the pickles, you can actually store them for up to 1 month by putting them in a closed jar. Be mindful that their flavor will get more intense over time.

How to Perfect Your Bún Chả Recipe?

At this point, I believe that you’ll be able to whip up bún chả with ease. That said, don’t skip these tips and tricks, as they are more useful than you think!

Don’t Miss This Chance to Try out Bún Chả – a Hanoian Delicacy

Bún chả is the pride of Northern Vietnamese cuisine and is a dish that every true foodie should try at least once. With today’s recipe, you can now make and enjoy this delicious delicacy without having to eat out!

What are your thoughts on bún chả? Between bún chả and bún thịt nướng, which one do you like better? Drop a comment to let me know what you think about this recipe! Also, kindly like and share this post if you enjoy it. Have a great time cooking!