Rice Recipes

Vietnamese Egg Rolls & Rice Noodles Recipe (Bún Chả Giò)

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Bún Chả Giò is a mouthwatering Vietnamese egg rolls, rice noodles,  fresh herbs, vegetables, and a savory dipping sauce. The harmony of flavors and textures is what makes this dish so satisfying and memorable. The tender noodles, crispy egg rolls, tangy dipping sauce, and bright fresh herbs create an irresistible combination.

Bún Chả Giò can typically be found at street food stalls and casual restaurants throughout Vietnam. It’s a popular lunchtime meal, but can be enjoyed any time of day. The dish is versatile, customizable, and easy to make at home. Once you get the basic formula down, you can start experimenting with ingredients to make it your own.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know to make authentic, flavorful Bún Chả Giò at home. You’ll learn about essential ingredients, equipment, step-by-step instructions, serving suggestions, FAQs, and more. Let’s get started!

Ingredients and Equipment

Vietnamese Egg Rolls & Rice Noodles Recipe

To make excellent Bún Chả Giò, you’ll need the right ingredients and tools. Here are the essentials:

Rice Noodles

The best noodles for Bún Chả Giò are bún – thin, round rice noodles. You can find fresh or dried bún at Asian grocery stores. Fresh noodles cook quickly, while dried ones will need to be soaked before using. Either variety works great in this dish!

Herbs & Vegetables

Fresh herbs and veggies are critical for Bún Chả Giò. Some popular choices are mint, cilantro, lettuce, bean sprouts, shredded cabbage, cucumber, and basil. They add freshness, crunch, aroma, and flavor contrast.

Egg Rolls

Egg rolls, known as chả giò in Vietnamese, provide a crispy, savory element when dipped into the nuoc cham sauce. You can make them from scratch or use store-bought.

Equipment

You’ll need basic kitchen tools like a pot, strainer, knives, cutting board, pans, paper towels, and mixing bowls. The equipment is simple – it’s the ingredients and technique that make Bún Chả Giò special.

How to Cook Vietnamese Egg Rolls & Rice Noodles Recipe

Now let’s get into the fun part – making Bún Chả Giò! Follow these steps for noodle bowl perfection:

Prep Noodles

For dried bún, soak noodles in hot water for 5-10 minutes until pliable. For fresh noodles, simply rinse under cold water to remove starch. Drain and set aside.

Make Egg Rolls

If using homemade chả giò, mix ground pork, mushrooms, carrots, and seasoning. Wrap in rice paper and deep fry until golden brown and crispy.

Assemble Dish

Place a portion of noodles into a bowl. Top with shredded lettuce, cucumber, bean sprouts, herbs, and other veggies of your choice. Add 2-3 halved egg rolls on top.

Make Nuoc Cham

Whisk together fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili pepper for the essential dipping sauce. Adjust flavor to taste.

Serve & Enjoy

Ladle nuoc cham sauce over the top right before eating. Mix everything together and enjoy the perfect bite! The noodles, veggies, and egg rolls pair wonderfully with the sweet, salty, and savory nuoc cham.

Serving Suggestions

Vietnamese Egg Rolls & Rice Noodles Recipe

Bún Chả Giò is extremely versatile. Here are some serving ideas:

  • Appetizer – Serve mini portions of Bún Chả Giò before a larger meal.
  • Side Dishes – Pair with grilled meats, fried spring rolls, or Vietnamese salads.
  • Customize – Add shrimp, pork, or chicken to make it a heartier entree.
  • Breakfast – For a savory morning meal, top with a fried egg.
  • Leftovers – Leftover components keep well and reheat nicely.

Get creative with ingredients and condiments! Part of the fun of Bún Chả Giò is customizing with your favorite flavors.

FAQs: Vietnamese Egg Rolls & Rice Noodles Recipe

What is the difference between Chinese egg rolls and Vietnamese egg rolls?

The main differences between Chinese egg rolls and Vietnamese egg rolls are:

  • The wrapper – Chinese egg rolls use a thinner, crispier wrapper made from wheat flour while Vietnamese egg rolls use a thicker, chewier rice paper wrapper.
  • The filling – Chinese egg rolls typically contain chopped vegetables like cabbage and carrots with pork or shrimp. Vietnamese egg rolls usually have vermicelli noodles, pork, shrimps and vegetables like lettuce, mint and green onions in the filling.
  • The shape – Chinese egg rolls are cylindrical while Vietnamese egg rolls are smaller and shaped more like a mini-burrito or wrap.

Are vermicelli noodles the same as rice noodles?

Vermicelli noodles and rice noodles are not the same. Vermicelli noodles are made from wheat flour while rice noodles are made from rice flour. Vermicelli noodles are thinner than rice noodles.

Are Vietnamese egg rolls healthy?

Vietnamese egg rolls can be a healthy option compared to Chinese egg rolls depending on the ingredients. The fresh herbs, vegetables, vermicelli noodles and protein make them nutritious. However, they can also be high in sodium, fat or calories depending on how they are prepared and what ingredients are used in the filling. Going with leaner proteins, using less oil when cooking, and avoiding deep frying can help make Vietnamese egg rolls a healthier choice.

Conclusion: Vietnamese Egg Rolls & Rice Noodles Recipe

Bún Chả Giò’s popularity stems from the addicting combination of flavors and textures. The tender noodles, crispy egg rolls, crunchy vegetables, bright herbs, and savory nuoc cham sauce work together in perfect harmony. With the step-by-step instructions in this article, you can now confidently make this iconic dish at home.

The key takeaways: use fresh ingredients, properly prep the noodles, nail the nuoc cham sauce, and don’t overlook garnishes. Outside of these fundamentals, feel free to get creative and make the dish your own! Bún Chả Giò is highly customizable.

Now get cooking and experience Vietnamese cuisine in a whole new way! And be sure try your hand at other fantastic Vietnamese dishes like phở, bánh mì, and bún bò nam bộ. Your tastebuds will thank you.

This post was last modified on 06/12/2024 05:00

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