Fresh summer noodle salad with juicy shrimps or marinated pork, pickled carrots, lots of cilantro and jalapeño.
The delicate sauce is made out of chilies, fish sauce, lime zest and juice.
What you need
Shrimp marinade
+ 2 Tbsp fish sauce
+ 3 garlic cloves
+ 3 tbsp finely chopped lemongrass (3 stalks using center white and pale green part only)
+ 1 tbsp sugar
Marinate no more than an hour, fire up the grill and cook the shrimps.
Pork marinade
+ 1 lbs pork butt (or belly) thinkly sliced
+ 3 garlic cloves
+ 1 tsp ginger
+ 2 1/2 tbsp sugar (palm sugar is best, or light brown sugar)
+ 1/4 tsp pepper
+ 4 tsp fish sauce
+ 1 1/2 tsp thick soy sauce
+ 2 scallions (optional)
+ 1 tbsp sesame oil (optional)
Combine shallot, garlic, ginger and sugar in a mortar and grind to a paste. Add the pepper, fish sauce, soy sauce, (scallions and sesame oil if using) and combine with the pork using your hand to make sure it is well coated. Cover and marinate for 4 hours, or up to 2 days in the fridge. About 1/2 hour before cooking, set the pork at room temperature. Fire up the grill and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, or until it is charred right without overcooking.
Scallion oil (optional)
+ 4 scallions thinly sliced
+ a couple pinches of salt
+ 4 tbsp neutral oil like canola or sunflower
Combine all in a microwave safe bowl and heat up on high for a minute.
Nuoc cham sauce
+ 1⁄2 cup + 2 tablespoons warm water
+ 2 tablespoons sugar (palm sugar is best, or just granulated)
+ 2 tablespoons fish sauce
+ 2 tablespoons lime juice (or 2 tbsp rice vinegar)
+ 1 garlic clove, minced
+ thai chilies, jalapeño, fesno/red hot chili peppers
To store nuoc cham for a couple weeks, only mix in water, sugar and fish sauce. Then add lime, garlic and chilies at the last minute. Tip: the sugar to fish sauce to water ratio I find it always best at 1:1:5. Add more or less lime juice for stronger or lighter taste.
Pickled vegetables
+ 1 cup carrots / green papaya / daikon using a spirilizer or Y-peeler to slice paper thin.
+ 1/4 cup vinegar (rice vinegar and regular)
+ 2 tbsp sugar
+ 1 tsp salt
Let sit for 20min minimum, up to a couple days.
Rice Noodles
+ Soak in water for an hour.
+ Cook according to package directions
+ Rinse under cold water for 1 min.
Salad
Fried shallots, mint, basil, cilantro, scallions, cucumbers, lettuce
