Top 5 Vietnamese Ground Meat Dishes

Bún chả is a pork and noodle dish that is intricately connected to Hanoi, where it is believed to have originated. The dish combines three elements: a bowl of grilled pork meatballs served in a cold broth, a plate of rice noodles, and a combination of various fresh greens such as perilla leaves, lettuce, coriander, and morning glory. Although bún chả or similar varieties can be found in other parts of Vietnam, the local Hanoi version is held in high regard. Not much is known about its history or origin, but the dish became internationally recognized in 2016 when it was featured on the show Parts Unknown – in which the host Anthony Bourdain enjoyed bún chả together with the former president Barack Obama.Expand

Nem lui is a traditional dish originating from Hue. The dish consists of ground pork that's grilled on a lemongrass skewer. Other ingredients often include black pepper, pork skin, garlic, shallots, and fish sauce. The meat combination is rolled into a sausage shape around a lemongrass stick, and it's then brushed with oil and grilled on a coal stove until slightly charred. Nem lui typically comes accompanied by vegetables, Vietnamese herbs, and rice paper that's rolled like a spring roll while the grilled ground pork is used as the filling, and the combination is then dipped in a sweet and sour peanut-sesame sauce. The dish is served as a main course or a snack in the afternoon.Expand

Bò lá lốt is a Vietnamese dish consisting of ground beef that is combined with spices and onions before it is wrapped in lolot leaves (occasionally known as wild betel). The rolls are then grilled over charcoal, and they are traditionally served together with rice noodles, rice paper, lettuce, herbs, pickles, and dipping sauces. It is recommended to enjoy bò lá lốt by wrapping it in rice paper along with side dishes, garnishes, and condiments.Expand

Bánh mì xíu mại is a traditional bánh mì sandwich variety made with ground pork meatballs as the main ingredient. The meatballs are usually made with a combination of ground pork, corn starch, fish sauce, garlic, black pepper, scallions, and jicama. They’re cooked in a sauce consisting of tomatoes, garlic, oil, sugar, and fish sauce. In order to prepare the sandwich, the meatballs are placed into a sliced bánh mì roll along with the sauce, and bánh mì xíu mại is then typically topped with coriander, pickled daikon and carrots, and sliced chili peppers, if desired.Expand