Nem Nuong Spring Rolls (Print Version)
Grilled pork sausage wrapped with fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, and vermicelli in rice paper.
# What You'll Need:
→ Nem Nuong (Grilled Pork Sausage)
01 - 1.1 lbs ground pork (20% fat preferred)
02 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 2 tbsp sugar
04 - 1 tbsp fish sauce
05 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
06 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
07 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
08 - 1 tbsp neutral oil
→ Spring Roll Assembly
09 - 8 large rice paper wrappers
10 - 3.5 oz rice vermicelli noodles, cooked and cooled
11 - 1 small cucumber, julienned
12 - 1 large carrot, julienned
13 - 8 large lettuce leaves (romaine or green leaf)
14 - 1 bunch fresh mint
15 - 1 bunch fresh cilantro
→ Dipping Sauce (Nuoc Cham)
16 - 3 tbsp fish sauce
17 - 2 tbsp lime juice
18 - 2 tbsp sugar
19 - 2 tbsp water
20 - 1 clove garlic, minced
21 - 1 small red chili, finely sliced (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Combine ground pork, minced garlic, sugar, fish sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, black pepper, and 1 tbsp oil in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until the mixture becomes sticky and well combined. Wet your hands with water and shape the mixture into 8 sausage-shaped logs.
02 - Preheat a grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat. Grill the pork sausages for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Set aside to rest.
03 - Mix fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and water in a small bowl until completely dissolved. Stir in minced garlic and sliced chili. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity as desired.
04 - Rinse and thoroughly dry lettuce, mint, and cilantro. Julienne the cucumber and carrot into thin, uniform strips.
05 - Fill a large shallow dish with warm water. Dip a rice paper wrapper into the water for 5-7 seconds until just pliable. Lay the softened wrapper on a clean, damp kitchen towel.
06 - Place a lettuce leaf on the lower third of the wrapper. Top with a small bundle of vermicelli, some cucumber, carrot, and a few mint and cilantro leaves. Add one grilled pork sausage. Fold the sides inward and roll up tightly from the bottom to enclose the filling completely.
07 - Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 8 rolls. Serve immediately with the prepared dipping sauce for the best texture and flavor.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of warm grilled pork and cool fresh herbs creates this incredible temperature contrast that wakes up your whole palate
- Rolling your own spring rolls at the table turns dinner into an interactive experience that brings everyone together
02 -
- Don't oversoak the rice paper or it will become impossibly fragile and tear when you try to roll it
- The pork sausages can be grilled a day ahead and gently reheated, which actually makes mealtime much more relaxed
03 -
- Set up a rolling station with a damp towel underneath your work surface to prevent the wrappers from sticking
- If your rice paper is too brittle, let it sit for a few seconds after dipping before you start filling it