Bún Thịt Nướng

also called bun thit nuong · bún thịt nướng · grilled pork vermicelli · grilled pork noodle bowl · vermicelli bowl · noodle bowl · bun bowl · cold noodle bowl · B1

The table

3 stalks(tender lower third, minced fine)lemongrassstir the marinademarinate chilled 2 hrgrill 8 min, until the edges chararrange the bowl, dress at the table
3 cloves(minced)garlic
2 Tbs(25 g)granulated sugar
2 Tbs(30 mL)fish sauce
1 Tbs(15 mL)vegetable oil
1 lb(450 g; sliced 1/4 inch across the grain)pork shoulder
6 oz(170 g)rice vermicelliboil 4 min, rinse cold
3 qt(2.8 L)water
4 leaves(shredded)lettuce
1/2(in matchsticks)cucumber
1/2 cupmint
1/2 cup(drained)đồ chua
1/4 cup(chopped)roasted peanuts
2 Tbsfried shallots
1 cupnước chấm
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.16 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1stir the marinade

2marinate chilled 2 hr

goes in with what step 1 made

3boil 4 min, rinse cold

5arrange the bowl, dress at the table

goes in with what steps 3 and 4 made

Cooking it

Start to finish is the longest chain through the table, so branches that overlap are counted once. That is why the waits add up to more than the clock — and it only holds if you get them going together.

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 2 hr 8 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
8 minof the steps that give a time

2 of the 5 steps never say how long they take, so both numbers are floors. The recipe itself says 2 hr 45 min.

  1. stir the marinade

    not timedfrom the start

  2. boil 4 min, rinse cold

    4 minwalk awayfrom the start

  3. marinate chilled 2 hr

    2 hrwalk awayfrom the start

  4. grill 8 min, until the edges char

    8 minneeds you2 hr in

  5. arrange the bowl, dress at the table

    not timed2 hr 8 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them. Bars that line up are happening at the same time.

You'll need fridge

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Bún Thịt Nướng
>> category: Rice, Beans & Grains
>> tags: pork, rice noodles, vietnamese, lemongrass, grill
>> counters: Phở & Bánh Mì
>> aka: bun thit nuong, bún thịt nướng, grilled pork vermicelli, grilled pork noodle bowl, vermicelli bowl, noodle bowl, bun bowl, cold noodle bowl, B1
>> pairs-with: nuoc-cham, do-chua
>> servings: 4
>> time: 2 hr 45 min
>> step.1: stir the marinade
>> step.2: marinate chilled 2 hr
>> step.3: grill 8 min, until the edges char
>> step.4: boil 4 min, rinse cold
>> step.5: arrange the bowl, dress at the table

Stir @lemongrass{3%stalks}(tender lower third, minced fine), @garlic{3%cloves}(minced), @granulated sugar{2%Tbs}(25 g), @fish sauce{2%Tbs}(30 mL) and @vegetable oil{1%Tbs}(15 mL) into a marinade. Same family as the sandwich's, without the oyster sauce — this bowl already has nước chấm running through it and does not want a second dark note.

Marinate @pork shoulder{1%lb}(450 g; sliced 1/4 inch across the grain) in @&(~1)marinade{} in the #fridge{} ~marinate{2%hr}.

Grill @&(~1)pork{} over hot coals ~grill{8%min}, turning once, until the edges char and the sugar catches.

Boil @rice vermicelli{6%oz}(170 g) in @water{3%qt}(2.8 L) ~boil{4%min}, then drain and rinse cold. This is a cool bowl and not a soup: the noodles go in at room temperature and the pork is the only hot thing in it.

Arrange @&(~1)noodles{} over @lettuce{4%leaves}(shredded), @cucumber{1/2}(in matchsticks), @mint{1/2%cup} and @đồ chua{1/2%cup}(drained), lay @&(~2)grilled pork{} across the top, and finish with @roasted peanuts{1/4%cup}(chopped), @fried shallots{2%Tbs} and @nước chấm{1%cup} poured over at the table, then turned through with chopsticks until everything is wet.