Chả Lụa

also called cha lua · chả lụa · giò lụa · gio lua · Vietnamese pork roll · pork roll · Vietnamese ham · steamed pork sausage · cha lua banh mi · gio

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Chả Lụa: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
2 lb(900 g; cut in 1-inch cubes)lean pork loinfreeze firm 45 minbeat cold to a smooth paste 4 minwrap tight and tiepoach 50 min to 165°F (74°C)chill 8 hr, then slice
4 oz(115 g; diced)pork fatback
3 Tbs(45 mL)fish sauce
1 Tbs(12 g)granulated sugar
1 tsp(4 g)baking powder
2 Tbs(20 g)potato starch
1 tspwhite pepper
1/4 cup(60 mL)ice water
4 large(rinsed, then passed over a flame until they go glossy)banana leaves
4 qt(3.8 L; at a shiver, never a boil)water
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.12 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1freeze firm 45 min

2beat cold to a smooth paste 4 min

goes in with what step 1 made

3wrap tight and tie

goes in with what step 2 made

4poach 50 min to 165°F (74°C)

goes in with what step 3 made

Cooking it

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

The clock

Start to finish
at least 9 hr 39 min1 of 5 steps gives no time
Needs you
about 4 min
If you get it wrong
Unforgiving — the paste stays below 50°F or the fat smears and the roll is crumbly, and the poach still has to reach 165°F at the centre
  1. freeze firm 45 min

    45 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. beat cold to a smooth paste 4 min

    4 minneeds you45 min in

  3. wrap tight and tie

    not timed49 min in

  4. poach 50 min to 165°F (74°C)

    50 minwalk away49 min in

  5. chill 8 hr, then slice

    8 hrwalk away1 hr 39 min in

You'll need food processor · kitchen twine

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Chả Lụa
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: pork, vietnamese, cold cuts, poached, banh mi
>> counters: Phở & Bánh Mì, The Bowl Shop
>> aka: cha lua, chả lụa, giò lụa, gio lua, Vietnamese pork roll, pork roll, Vietnamese ham, steamed pork sausage, cha lua banh mi, gio
>> pairs-with: banh-mi-khong
>> servings: 12
>> time: 10 hr
>> slack: unforgiving — the paste stays below 50°F or the fat smears and the roll is crumbly, and the poach still has to reach 165°F at the centre

>> step: freeze firm 45 min
Spread @lean pork loin{2%lb}(900 g; cut in 1-inch cubes) and @pork fatback{4%oz}(115 g; diced) on a tray and ~freeze{45%min}, until the edges are hard and the middle still gives.

>> step: beat cold to a smooth paste 4 min
Beat @&(~1)cold pork{} with @fish sauce{3%Tbs}(45 mL), @granulated sugar{1%Tbs}(12 g), @baking powder{1%tsp}(4 g), @potato starch{2%Tbs}(20 g), @white pepper{1%tsp} and @ice water{1/4%cup}(60 mL) in a #food processor{} in short bursts ~beat{4%min}, until it is glossy and tacky and pulls away in one piece.

>> step: wrap tight and tie
Wrap @&(~1)pork paste{} in @banana leaves{4%large}(rinsed, then passed over a flame until they go glossy) and again in foil, rolling it into a tight 2-inch log and tying both ends with #kitchen twine{}.

>> step: poach 50 min to 165°F (74°C)
Poach @&(~1)roll{} in @water{4%qt}(3.8 L; at a shiver, never a boil) ~poach{50%min}, until the centre reads 165°F (74°C).

>> step: chill 8 hr, then slice
Chill @&(~1)chả lụa{} ~chill{8%hr} before unwrapping.