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Home / Recipes / Bún Thịt Nướng (Vietnamese Grilled Pork with Vermicelli)

Bún Thịt Nướng (Vietnamese Grilled Pork with Vermicelli)

Dinner, Recipes

Bun Thit Nuong - Vietnamese Vermicelli with Pork
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Bun Thit Nuong… carmelized pork, pickled carrots, fresh herbs, crunchy veggies, salty peanuts, & my Vietnamese Special Sauce = an explosion of flavour!

I recently posted in my Instagram stories that I was making this Bun Thit Nuong recipe and my friend responded and said:

“Literally one of my favourite recipes ever!”​

It’s one of my favourites, too! And my husband’s! It’s what he orders EVERY single time we’re at a Vietnamese restaurant! Sometimes a dish is so good there’s no point in gambling on trying something different.

What is Bun Thit Nuong?

The Vietnamese name for this dish we call Grilled Pork Vermicelli is Bun Thit Nuong…..

  • Bun = noodles
  • Thit = meat
  • Nuong = grilled

So technically, it doesn’t specifically refer to pork…. so be careful if you’re in Vietnam because there are different types of “Thits” and Thit Cho is referring to your beloved Benji!

I like to post simple, healthful recipes, but sometimes a recipe is so good you have to break the rules. This is one such recipe. Healthy it is, simple it is not. I wouldn’t classify it as difficult, per se, but it does have several steps. It may look intimidating, but it really isn’t!

This Bun Thit Nuong recipe is a whole meal in a bowl.

It’s a glammed up salad.

It’s fresh.

It’s amazing.

It’s totally worth your time and effort!

First let’s take a look at the ingredients in Bun Thit Nuong

  • Lotsa fresh veggies: add nutrients and CRUNCH
  • Quick pickled carrots: add a sweet and sour punch
  • Vermicelli: neutral base and fun to slurp!
  • Fresh herbs: add health boosting phytonutrients and tons of flavour
  • Carmelized grilled pork: add protein, iron, and that gotta-have-it umami flavour
  • Peanuts: add protein, more crunch, and salt
  • Vietnamese Special Sauce: adds more flavour and either a little or a lot of spice…. depending on your pepper! I call it a special sauce for a reason: you just never know how spicy it will be! I always add one pepper but sometimes the sauce is super spicy or just mild. I really have no idea how to pick a pepper for its spice level! Anyone have any tips? Anyway, start with a small amount of sauce and taste before dousing your bowl in it because it might make you feel like your mouth is on fire!

Then let’s see how and when to make this Bun Thit Nuong recipe

While the list of ingredients may appear intimidating, this recipe really isn’t overly involved or complicated! Especially if you break it up into two prep sessions:

Session One: 

  • Can be done one day ahead or a few hours ahead. Best if spaced at least 30 minutes before cooking the meat.
  • Prep the quick pickled carrots so they have a chance to absorb the brine. Use a julienne grater to get the carrots into nice match stick slices! I have this one from OXO good grips (affiliate link) and I love it!
  • Prepare the pork by slicing it as thin as you can and then adding the marinade.
  • Prep the Vietnamese special sauce.
  • Store all prepped items in the fridge until session two.

Session Two:

  • Chop the veggies and fresh herbs.
  • Chop the peanuts (or keep them whole if you want to make things easier!)
  • Cook the noodles.
  • Fry up the pork.
  • Assemble the Bun Thit Nuong bowls!
Bun Thit Nuong - (labeled)

Why this Bun Thit Nuong is the Smart Choice

I recently met up with a friend for lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant. I was shocked at how salty the food was!  I make most of my meals from scratch and don’t eat out very often, so my salt intake is relatively low. Since our tastebuds get “acclimatized”  to the amount of salt (and sugar) we consume, I’m not used to such a salty meal, and it didn’t impress me. Making Bun Thit Nuong at home instead of in a restaurant allows you to control the amount of sodium and control what your tastebuds grow acclimatized to. The fresh herbs add a bunch of flavour so that you don’t need to use that salt shaker!

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or snap a photo and tag it with #smartnutritionrecipes on Instagram!  I’d love to see your creations!

Bun Thit Nuong - Vietnamese Vermicelli with Pork
5 from 6 votes

bún thịt nướng (Vietnamese Grilled Pork with Vermicelli)

Print Recipe
Bun Thit Nuong… carmelized pork, pickled carrots, fresh herbs, crunchy veggies, salty peanuts, & my Vietnamese Special Sauce = an explosion of flavour!

Ingredients

For the Pork

  • 0.75 lbs pork loin or pork tenderloin
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp lemongrass paste
  • 1 tsp Sriracha chili sauce
  • ½ tsp ginger

For the Quick Pickled Carrots:

  • 1 large carrot
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • pinch of salt

For the Special Vietnamese Sauce

  • ¼ cup water
  • 3 tbsp fish sauce
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 2 tbsp vinegar
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 red chili chopped

For Assembling the Meal!

  • sliced cucumbers
  • fresh cilantro
  • fresh mint
  • cooked vermicelli noodles
  • crushed peanuts

Instructions

To make the pork:

  • Thinly slice the pork into strips. The skinnier the better.
  • Combine the rest of the ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Stir to combine.
  • Add in the pork and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Several hours is best.
  • When ready to cook, heat a frying pan on high with a little bit of oil.
  • Add in the pork and stirfry until all the pieces are cooked through.

To make the quick pickled carrots:

  • Slice the carrots into matchsticks.
  • In a microwave safe bowl, combine the rest and microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir to dissolve sugar.
  • Place the carrots in the brine and place in fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes. Several hours is best.

To make the Vietnamese Special Sauce:

  • Combine and stir to dissolve sugar

To make the Vermicelli Bowls:

    Layer the following in your bowl:

    • Romaine lettuce, chopped
    • Cooked vermicelli noodles (follow package directions)
    • Quick pickled carrots (see recipe above)
    • Fresh cilantro and mint, chopped
    • Slices of cucumber
    • Crushed peanuts
    • Grilled Vietnamese pork (see recipe above)
    • Drizzle with special sauce (see recipe above)
    •  Eat with chopsticks and feel authentic.
    Calories:
    Author: Jessica Penner, RD

    Recipe inspiration here and here.

    August 15, 2014 · 20 Comments

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    Recipe Rating




    Comments

    1. Ashley Hosier says

      June 16, 2022 at 12:05 am

      5 stars
      So, so yummy. Even the pickiest family members enjoyed this recipe.

      Reply
      • Jessica Penner says

        January 10, 2023 at 10:44 am

        Happy to hear that!

        Reply
    2. Angela says

      March 22, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this twice in one week! This is such a close dupe of our fav Vietnamese takeout, and we couldn’t be happier! Thanks for a great recipe

      Reply
      • Jessica Penner says

        May 23, 2022 at 6:19 pm

        I am so glad you are enjoying this meal so much! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Rhonda says

      February 1, 2022 at 8:34 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious. I added mango salad and peanut sauce because why not? Almost 2 hours of prep but I’d definitely do it again!

      Reply
      • Jessica Penner says

        May 23, 2022 at 6:26 pm

        Thanks for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. Angela says

      January 10, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      Looks delicious, tasty, fresh and easy. Can’t wait to try this out.

      Reply
      • Jessica Penner says

        January 10, 2023 at 11:09 am

        Enjoy! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Lori T says

      May 17, 2021 at 10:25 pm

      5 stars
      This was one of my favourite dishes eating out so I am so glad to have found a close rendition!

      Reply
    6. Emily says

      January 23, 2021 at 10:49 pm

      5 stars
      We love this recipe! The sauce and the meat are so flavourful and all the textures and flavours make is such an interesting and delicious meal.

      Reply
      • Jessica Penner says

        January 28, 2021 at 10:27 am

        So glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    7. Melissa says

      December 18, 2020 at 11:33 am

      What kind of vinegar please?

      Reply
      • Jessica Penner, RD says

        December 18, 2020 at 11:39 am

        Just regular white vinegar!

        Reply
    8. Ingrid says

      April 26, 2019 at 9:21 am

      I have seen this recipe on this website for years and had been meaning to try it. Yesterday was the day and it was fantastic! Definitely a keeper. Very authentic tasting and fresh. I plan to use it when we host large groups since much of it can be prepped ahead of time.

      Reply
      • Jessica Penner says

        May 8, 2019 at 9:06 pm

        Thanks for the comment! Yes, it’s a good one for groups because everyone can make their bowl to their own liking!

        Reply
    9. Jen says

      February 1, 2015 at 8:03 pm

      How many servings does this recipe make. Looks like a favorite from a Vietnamese restaurant I frequent. Can’t wait to try it.

      Reply
      • Jessica Penner says

        February 2, 2015 at 4:10 pm

        I’ve shied away from listing the number of servings because the amount each person eats will vary quite a bit. But I’ve recently had a request for the number of servings so that someone can get an idea whether it will serve 2 people or 10 people! So I’m going to start giving a range! For this recipe, the pork would serve about 3-4 people!

        Reply
    10. Jocelyn says

      August 29, 2014 at 2:36 pm

      This looks delicious, and I think I have most of the ingredients! Should be on my list for next week I think…

      Reply
    11. Corinna says

      August 15, 2014 at 11:52 pm

      Oh boy, I want to eat that. Aren’t we making supper sometime for our families together? 🙂

      Reply
      • Jessica Penner says

        August 16, 2014 at 2:51 am

        Yes! We should definitely make plans. Should this be on the menu?

        Reply

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