Lemongrass Pork Vermicelli Bowl (Bun Thit Xao Xa)
This yummy, simple recipe for lemongrass pork vermicelli bowls is the perfect dish for weeknight dinners. It includes pork shoulder marinated in lemongrass, fish sauce, and sugar served with vermicelli noodles, a variety of vegetables, and Vietnamese dipping sauce.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 319kcal
Ingredients
Lemongrass Pork Shoulder
- 1 ¼ lb pork shoulder cut into thin strips
- ½ cup lemongrass minced
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp corn starch
- 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 4 cloves garlic minced
Vermicelli Bowl
- 4 cups lettuce cut into 1 inch pieces
- ¼ cup pickled daikon
- ¼ cup pickled carrots
- ½ cup cucumbers thinly sliced
- ¼ cup mint
- 16 oz vermicelli noodles boiled
- ½ cup Vietnamese dipping sauce
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients from pork through fish sauce to a bowl. Marinate for at least 3 hours, but for the best results, marinate overnight.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium high heat. Saute the pork for 2-3 minutes until brown on all sides.
- Lower the heat to medium low. Cover and cook for 3-5 minutes until pork is cooked through.
- Add the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until the garlic is cooked.
- Try the pork to make sure the texture is soft enough for you. If it is too chewy, add 1-2 tablespoons of water and cover and cook on medium low for another 3-5 minutes until the water becomes a thick sauce. Repeat this process until the pork is soft enough for your tastes.
- Once done, empty the pork onto a plate and set aside.
- Add lettuce, carrots, daikon, cucumbers, mint, and vermicelli noodles to a bowl. Top with a few pieces of pork.
- Drizzle with Vietnamese dipping sauce and serve.
Notes
- Marinate the pork overnight for the best flavor - The longer the pork sits in the marinade, the better it will taste. I marinated mine for 24 hours, and it tasted AMAZING!
- Cook pork over medium high heat - Cooking pork over medium high heat gets you that nice sear/brown color without all the water coming out of the pork. Cooking on a lower heat will cause the water to come out and produce a soggy sauce.
- How do you store the lemongrass pork? - Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- What if I don't want to make a vermicelli bowl? - If you don't want a vermicelli bowl, this lemongrass pork can also be eaten with rice or bread!
Nutrition
Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 814mg | Potassium: 609mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1838IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 3mg