Ba Nams Nem Nuong With Nuoc Leo Sauce Recipes

NEM NUONG (VIETNAMESE GRILLED PORK PATTIES)

Steps:

• Using food processor, process garlic until finely pureed. Combine pork, garlic, salt, pepper and sugar in mixing bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine baking powder and water and stir. Mixture will bubble and foam. Add one drop of food coloring or caramel syrup (this adds color to the pork when grilled).
• Fold the baking powder into mixture and allow meat to chill for about 30 minutes to 1 hour or longer. The baking powder forms air bubbles and adds more bouncier or spongier texture.
• Refrigerate meat mixture a few hours to let it set for easier handling while forming patties, balls or flattened mini sausages. Keep a bowl of water handy and your hands wet for easy handling.
• Grill or pan fry about 4-5 minutes per side.
• Serve with Nuoc Cham and vermicelli (bean thread), if desired.
• To make Nuoc Cham: In a bowl, mash the garlic with the sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
• To make Bun Nem Noung: Place vermicelli in boiling water for about 6-8 minutes, stirring regularly to keep from sticking to the bottom of the pot. To check for doneness, take a strand and taste. It should be still slightly firm but easily breaks apart. Drain and flush with cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Combine vermicelli in bowls with nem nuong (pork patties), fresh herbs, pickled carrots and daikon, fried shallots and/or crushed roasted peanuts and dress with Nuoc Cham (sauce).

NEM NUONG (VIETNAMESE SAUSAGE)

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
• Set a cast-iron pan over medium heat, and add rice. Cook, swirling and stirring constantly, until rice turns a deep golden color, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat, pour into a small heatproof bowl and allow to cool. Use a spice or coffee grinder to grind cooled rice into a fine powder.
• Place rice powder, sugar, pepper, salt, baking powder, fish sauce and garlic in a large bowl, and stir to combine.
• Add pork to the bowl, and using your hands, mix thoroughly for 1 full minute.
• Heat a cast-iron pan over medium heat. Use a heaping tablespoon of pork mixture to make a small, thin sausage patty. Add a teaspoon or so of oil, and cook the patty for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Taste, and if needed, add salt or any other seasonings to the uncooked sausage mixture, and mix to combine.
• Divide and roll the remaining sausage into 8 3-inch logs, skewering lengthwise and placing on the prepared baking sheet as you go. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to come together. (Sausages can be made ahead and covered and refrigerated or frozen at this point until ready to use.)
• To cook, wipe out cast-iron pan, and return to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil. When it shimmers, add sausages in a single layer, leaving space between them. Cook, rotating every 2 minutes, until browned on the surface and just cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes total.
• Drain sausages on paper towels, and serve hot.

BA-NAM'S NEM NUONG WITH NUOC LEO SAUCE

Steps:

• Have butcher grind pork and pork fat together very fine, or do it yourself in a food processor. Mix sugar, garlic and pepper with pork and set aside, covered and refrigerated, for a few hours or overnight.
• Combine tuong and water and mix well. Add thinly sliced chili peppers to taste. Place sauce in serving bowl and sprinkle peanuts over top.
• When ready to serve, form pork into little meatballs about 1 inch in diameter and thread onto wooden skewers. Grill over charcoal if possible, basting frequently with peanut oil; or broil in a gas or electric oven for 15 to 20 minutes, basting and turning skewers until meatballs are nicely browned.
• While meat is cooking, arrange vegetables on platter with rice papers and a bowl of warm water.
• Each guest should dip a rice paper in water to soften, then arrange lettuce on rice paper with other vegetables as desired and two or three meatballs. Wrap rice paper to make a little package and dip in nuoc leo sauce before eating.