Bun Cha
Grilled pork patties in warm nuoc cham with vermicelli and herbs.
Ingredients
- 500 g Ground pork
- 300 g Rice vermicelli
- 2 Lemongrass
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 4 tbsp Fish sauce
- 2 Lime
- 3 tbsp Sugar
- 1 Carrot
- 1 bunch Mint (optional)
Method
- Mince the lemongrass and garlic and mix into the pork with a little fish sauce and sugar.
- Whisk the fish sauce, lime, sugar, and water into a warm nuoc cham and stir in the shredded carrot.
- Soak the vermicelli in hot water until tender, then drain.
- Form the pork into patties and grill until charred and cooked through.
- Drop the warm patties into the nuoc cham.
- Serve with the vermicelli, herbs, and the bowl of cham for dipping.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Bun Cha
Bun cha is a Hanoi specialty and one of northern Vietnam's great street foods: grilled pork patties served swimming in a warm, tangy dipping sauce alongside cool rice vermicelli and a pile of fresh herbs. What defines it is the interplay of hot and cold, the smoky charred pork against the light noodles, all pulled together by nuoc cham, the sweet-sour-salty fish sauce dressing that is the soul of the dish.
The pork is seasoned with minced lemongrass and garlic so it turns fragrant and caramelized on the grill, then dropped straight into the warm cham where shredded carrot lends sweetness and crunch. Eating it is interactive: you gather noodles, herbs, and a patty and dip as you go, so every bite is a fresh assembly of textures and temperatures. Traditionally a midday meal, it's a natural for warm-weather cooking and pairs well with a plate of extra herbs and a crisp beer.
Bun Cha: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Bun Cha?
A serving has about 629 calories — 28.5g protein, 77.1g carbs, 22.5g fat, 2.3g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 28.5g of protein, roughly 18% of its calories.
Is Bun Cha gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Bun Cha has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Bun Cha take to make?
About 45 minutes start to finish, but only around 27 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Bun Cha?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out mint — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Bun Cha make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.