Ingredients
Meatballs:
1 lb. ground pork
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped shallot
4 Tbsp minced lemongrass
2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
Dipping Sauce (Nuoc Cham):
1/4 cup lime juice (about 2 limes)
3/4 cup water
3 Tbsp fish sauce
1 Thai red chili pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp sugar
1 carrot, thinly sliced
Bowls:
8 oz. rice vermicelli noodles
1 head butter lettuce
1 handful fresh mint
1 carrot, sliced
1/2 cucumber, sliced
Instructions
For The Meatballs:
Chop the garlic and shallots, and mince the lemongrass.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together the pork, fish sauce, salt, pepper, honey, lemongrass, shallots, and garlic. Set the mixture aside for 1 to 2 hours in the fridge.
Shape the mixture into small meatballs (about 20 meatballs), and then gently flatten them a bit.
In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil and add the meatballs in a single layer. Cook the meatballs until they are golden and caramelized, around 2 to 3 minutes per side. Set the cooked meatballs aside.
For The Sauce:
Whisk the sauce ingredients together and adjust to your tastes. Optional: heat the water and whisk the sugar in to dissolve before adding the rest of the ingredients.
For The Bowls:
Prepare the vermicelli noodles according to package instructions (usually cook 2-3 minutes in a pot of boiling water).
Serve the noodles with the meatballs along with a handful of lettuce, mint, carrots, and cucumbers with the nuoc cham on the side.
Key Points About Ingredients:
- Lemongrass is the aromatic backbone of the meatballs — use fresh stalks and mince only the tender inner layers for the best fragrance and flavor.
- Fish sauce (nuoc mam) provides deep umami saltiness; look for a high-quality Vietnamese brand like Red Boat for the most authentic taste.
- Butter lettuce acts as a fresh, crisp wrapper and cooling contrast to the warm, caramelized meatballs — don't skip the greens.
- Rice vermicelli noodles cook in just 2–3 minutes and should be rinsed with cold water immediately after cooking to prevent clumping.
- Thai red chili in the nuoc cham brings gentle heat — adjust quantity to your spice preference or substitute with chili flakes.
- Honey in the meatball mixture promotes deep caramelization and a subtly sweet glaze that makes the pork irresistible.
- Shallots add a mild, sweet onion depth to the meatballs that regular onion cannot quite replicate — worth seeking out.
Key Nutritional Insights:
- Ground pork provides a rich source of complete protein and B vitamins, particularly B12, B3, and B6, supporting energy metabolism.
- Rice vermicelli is naturally gluten-free and provides quick-digesting carbohydrates for energy, making this dish accessible to gluten-sensitive diners.
- Fresh mint and butter lettuce contribute vitamin K and folate, supporting bone health and cellular function.
- Carrots supply beta-carotene (vitamin A), an important antioxidant that supports eye health and immune function.
- Lime juice in the nuoc cham provides a meaningful dose of vitamin C, which also helps enhance iron absorption from the pork.
- The dish's sodium is moderate-to-high due to fish sauce; those watching sodium intake can reduce fish sauce quantities slightly.
- Cucumber adds hydration and trace minerals with very few calories, balancing the richness of the pork meatballs.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size1
- Amount per serving
- Calories520
- Standard DV% Daily Value*
- Total Fat18 g72 g25%
- Saturated Fat6 g20 g30%
- Trans Fat0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat2.5 g
- Monounsaturated Fat8 g
- Cholesterol95 mg300 mg31.67%
- Sodium1420 mg2300 mg61.74%
- Total Carbohydrate58 g275 g21.09%
- Dietary Fiber4 g28 g14.29%
- Total Sugars14 g
- Added Sugars9 g50 g18%
- Sugar Alcohal0 g
- Protein30 g50 g60%
- Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol)12 mcg20 mcg60%
- Calcium80 mg1300 mg6.15%
- Iron3.2 mg18 mg17.78%
- Potassium720 mg4700 mg15.32%
- Vitamin A4800 mcg900 mcg533.33%
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)22 mg90 mg24.44%
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol)1.2 mg15 mg8%
- Vitamin K55 mcg120 mcg45.83%
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)0.7 mg1.2 mg58.33%
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)0.4 mg1.3 mg30.77%
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin)6.5 mg16 mg40.63%
- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)0.8 mg1.7 mg47.06%
- Folate48 mcg400 mcg12%
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamine)0.9 mcg2.4 mcg37.5%
- Biotin8 mcg30 mcg26.67%
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)1.2 mg5 mg24%
- Choline95 mg550 mg17.27%
- Phosphorus310 mg1250 mg24.8%
- Iodine12 mcg150 mcg8%
- Magnesium48 mg420 mg11.43%
- Zinc3.8 mg11 mg34.55%
- Selenium28 mcg55 mcg50.91%
- Copper0.18 mg0.9 mg20%
- Manganese0.9 mg2.3 mg39.13%
- Chromium4 mcg35 mcg11.43%
- Molybdenum18 mcg45 mcg40%
- Chloride420 mg2300 mg18.26%
