American Kitchen Classic Vietnamese Bun Cool Noodle Salad Recipes

VIETNAMESE LEMONGRASS BEEF AND NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine sugar, rice vinegar and lime juice and stir to dissolve. Add fish sauce, garlic, ginger, chiles and 1/2 cup water and stir together. Let sit for 15 minutes for flavors to meld. (May be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated.)
• Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add rice noodles, stir and turn off heat. Let noodles soften (5 to 8 minutes, depending on brand), then drain and rinse with cold water. Leave in colander at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, combine beef, fish sauce, sugar, garlic and lemon grass in a bowl. Massage seasoning into beef and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Line a serving bowl or four individual large wide soup bowls with a few lettuce leaves and top with noodles.
• Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. When wok is nearly smoking, add beef and quickly stir-fry until lightly browned and just cooked, about 2 minutes. Work in batches if necessary so meat browns and doesn't steam. (If you do not have a wok, you may use a cast iron skillet and work in batches.)
• Top noodles with cooked beef, scallions, carrot, cucumber and daikon. Sprinkle with herbs, crushed peanuts and fried shallots (add sprouts if using). Drizzle lightly with dipping sauce and pass remaining sauce at table.

VIETNAMESE RICE NOODLE SALAD WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the chicken thighs with your marinade ingredients, and set aside at room temperature for 30 mins to 1 hour while you prepare the other salad ingredients.
• Combine all the nuoc cham ingredients and stir until the sugar has completely dissolved into the sauce. Taste and adjust any of the ingredients if desired.
• Boil the rice vermicelli noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Set aside in a colander.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a cast iron skillet, grill pan, or frying pan over medium high heat. Sear the chicken for about 4 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Set aside on a plate.
• To assemble the salad, combine the rice noodles with bean sprouts, julienned carrots and cucumber, romaine lettuce, mint, and cilantro. Slice the chicken thighs and add to the salad. Serve with your nuoc cham sauce.

VIETNAMESE NOODLE SALAD WITH LEMONGRASS BEEF (BUN BO XAO)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Cut the sirloin against the grain into slices a little less than a quarter of an inch thick.
• Then, cut each slice into chunks about 1/2-inch wide. Place into a medium bowl.
• Mix the beef chunks with the nước mắm (fish sauce), garlic, and lemongrass.
• Divide the noodles between 2 bowls. Top with the julienned cucumber, pickled carrot and radish and finger chilie (if using).
• Heat the peanut oil in a wok to smoking point. Stir-fry the beef for about 2 minutes.
• Divide the beef between the 2 bowls.
• Top with fresh herbs, peanuts, and fried shallots.
• Serve with nước mắm pha on the side.

BUN (VIETNAMESE HERB NOODLE SALAD)

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Turn off the heat and add the noodles; let sit for 2 minutes.
• Remove noodles from hot water and shock them by placing them in a bowl of ice water. Drain in a colander.
• Place the noodles onto a serving bowl and cover with the cucumber, scallions and herbs. Garnish with black pepper, garlic and peanuts.
• Before serving, pour the Nuac Cham sauce over all and toss before serving.

AMERICAN KITCHEN CLASSIC VIETNAMESE BUN (COOL NOODLE SALAD)

Steps:

• Divide the lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber, mint, and basil among four large soup or pasta bowls. If working ahead of time, cover each bowl with damp paper towels and refrigerate.
• Set peanuts aside. Make 1 recipe nuoc cham and refrigerate.
• Bring a medium potful of water to a rolling boil. Add the rice vermicelli and, stirring often, cook them until the strands are soft and white, but still resilient, 3 to 5 minutes. Don't be tempted to undercook them, as they must be fully cooked to absorb the flavors of the dish. Rinse them in a colander under cold water just until they're cool and the water runs clear. Let the noodles drain in the colander for 30 minutes, and then set them aside for up to 2 hours, unrefrigerated.
• Follow the directions for one of the recipes (Vietnamese Lemongrass Shrimp, Vietnamese Grilled Pork, or Vietnamese Stir-Fried Vegetables). These toppings can be served hot or slightly cooled.
• Remove the salad bowls from the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before serving. The greens and bowl should be cool, not cold. Fluff the noodles with your fingers and divide them among the prepared salad bowls.
• Put the cooked topping on the noodles and garnish each bowl with the peanuts and cilantro.
• Pass the nuoc cham at the table. Each diner should drizzle about 3 tbsp over the salad and then toss the salad in the bowl a few times with two forks or chopsticks before eating.