Chances are, if I ask someone to name a Vietnamese comfort food, they’d say pho, a flavorful noodle soup that has gained much recognition. I 100% agree, which is why I’ve made pho countless times and shared quite a few recipes for it on my blog, including Oxtail Pho in the Instant Pot, Chicken Pho in the Instant Pot, as well as shortcut pho using a product from Target. However, when temperatures begin to rise, there is another Vietnamese dish I enjoy eating, that is equally comforting! It is Bún Thịt Nướng!
What is Bún Thịt Nướng?
Bún Thịt Nướng translates to “grilled pork with vermicelli noodles.” It is a dish that is served warm or chilled and consists of grilled pork, bun (thin rice vermicelli noodles), and a variety of delicious toppings, including fresh herbs like mint, cilantro and basil, sliced cucumber, do chua (pickled vegetables) and crushed peanuts, combined with nuoc mam (a tangy fish sauce-based Vietnamese dipping sauce or dressing). It is served for lunch or dinner and is a beloved dish that marries multiple flavors and textures into a flavor-packed experience.
How is it eaten? Drizzle nuoc mam sauce over the ingredients, then toss them around like you would with a salad, and dig in!
My Air Fryer Recipe
While Bún Thịt Nướng typically features grilled pork (often ground or sliced), which can include various cuts like pork shoulder or even skewered pork, my recipe below uses pork loin chops (preferably thin cuts). Marinating the pork chops in sauce overnight, or for at least 4 hours, infuses the meat with flavors from various sauces and aroma from lemongrass, garlic and shallots. To simplify the cooking process, I’ve also opted to air fry the pork rather than grilling it, and there are multiple reasons why this method is preferred by my household.
Air frying has become such a popular choice for healthier cooking nowadays. Here are some of the key reasons why it is often considered the better alternative:
- OIL CONTENT: Air frying uses significantly less oil, with some recipes requiring absolutely no oil at all! This reduces fat content and calorie intake, making it a healthier cooking method.
- RESULTS: Air frying cooks food by circulating hot air around it, still creating a crispy exterior while retaining moisture inside. The fast air circulation also helps heat food more evenly and efficiently.
- TIME REQUIRED: Because the cooking chambers of air fryers are small, preheating them happens almost instantly, allowing you to get cooking right away.
- CLEANUP: Cleanup after air frying simply requires washing the air fryer basket and wiping down the interior of the appliance, which is much easier cleanup!
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Air Fryer Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork for Bún Thịt Nướng or Sườn Nướng
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
Marinade
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp freshly ground pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tbsp shallots minced
- 3 tbsp lemongrass minced
Rest of the Dish
- 4 bone-in pork loin chops
- cooking spray
To Serve
- bun (vermicelli)
- sliced cucumbers
- do chua (pickled daikon and carrots) (recipe can be found on rackoflam.com)
- herbs (basil, mint)
- crushed peanuts
- nuoc mam (Vietnamese sauce) (recipe can be found on rackoflam.com)
Instructions
- Pound both sides of the pork chops with a meat mallet or back of a cleaver to tenderize the meat. Cut 2-3 slips on the side of each pork chop to prevent them from curling during the cooking process
- In a bowl, add all the marinade ingredients and mix until well blended
- Transfer the pork chops into a ziploc bag or dish, then pour the marinade onto the pork chops. Coat until well incorporated, then marinate in the fridge overnight (flipping midway)
- Prior to cooking, remove pork chops 20 minutes from the fridge to allow them to return to room temperature
- Spray air fryer basket with cooking oil
- Transfer pork chops onto basket, then spray surface of pork chops with cooking oil
- Air fry at 400 deg F for 7 minutes, then flip, spray with more cooking oil and air fry for another 5 minutes or until cooked to your liking
- Place pork chops on cutting board to rest for 5 minutes
- Serve chops over cooked vermicelli, accompanied by nuoc mam sauce, and optionally, cucumbers, do chua, herbs (like mint and basil) & crushed peanuts. (Recipes for do chua and nuoc mam sauce can be found on rackoflam.com!) Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Cooking times and temperatures may vary depending on the make and model of your air fryer. Please adjust accordingly.
PRODUCTS USED / RECOMMENDED:
- Light Brown Sugar – https://amzn.to/39zlzFf
- Light Soy Sauce – https://amzn.to/3bfWJJ3
- Dark Soy Sauce – https://amzn.to/3PnHsI5
- Oyster Sauce – https://amzn.to/3pWHsRM
- Fish Sauce – https://amzn.to/2X5nacc
- Honey – https://amzn.to/39t745G
- Cooking Spray – https://amzn.to/2JEudFI
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