Grilled Chicken Noodles Bun Ga Nuong Recipes

VIETNAMESE GRILLED CHICKEN WITH NOODLES (BUN GA NUONG)

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken. If using bone-in thighs, use a sharp paring knife to cut down to the bone on the meaty side of the thigh, slicing it along the entire length of the bone. Use the tip of the knife to detach the meat from one end by cutting it around the joint, then scrape the meat from the bone until you reach the other joint. Detach the meat from the second joint end. Put the boneless thighs in a medium-size bowl.
• Mix the fish sauce with the sugar and stir to dissolve. Mix in the pepper.
• Use the flat side of a meat mallet (or the side of a cleaver) to lightly crush the length of the lemongrass stalks. Mince the stalks as finely as possible and add the pieces to the bowl with the fish sauce and sugar.
• Finely mince the garlic and spring onions, then add them to the bowl and stir well. Pour the mixture over the chicken thighs, then mix to coat the pieces with the marinade. Refrigerate for about three hours, mixing occasionally. Remove from the fridge about 30 minutes before you want to cook the chicken.
• While the meat is marinating, prepare the other ingredients. Put the rice noodles in a large bowl, add tepid water to cover them by about 2cm (⅞ in) and leave to soak until pliable.
• Make the nuoc cham. Pour the sugar into a bowl and add 50ml (3 tbsp and 1 tsp) of hot water. Stir to dissolve the sugar, then cool to room temperature.
• Add the fish sauce and lime juice to the bowl with the sugar. Mince the garlic and thinly slice the chillies, squeezing out and discarding the seeds as you go. Add the garlic and chillies to the bowl, then set aside.
• Drain the soaked noodles in a colander. Bring a large pot of water to the boil, add the noodles and cook for about 30 seconds, or until just tender. Drain in a colander, then put the noodles in a mixing bowl.
• Finely mince the spring onions, then put them into a small pan. Add the cooking oil and place over a medium flame. Heat the oil until it sizzles, then turn off the flame and cool slightly. Pour the oil and spring onions over the noodles and mix with chopsticks or tongs until the noodles are lightly coated.
• Roughly chop the peanuts, then put them into a small bowl. Shred or grate the carrot. Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise, then cut into thin slices.
• Put the lettuce leaves, bean sprouts, herbs and cucumber on a plate. Add a small amount of the shredded carrot to the bowl holding the nuoc cham, then put the rest on the plate with the herbs and lettuce.
• Heat the oven grill to high. Take the chicken pieces out of the marinade, and wipe off most of the solids. Place the chicken thighs, skin-side down, on a grill rack placed over a pan. Slide the pan into the oven so the meat is about 3cm (1¼ in) away from the heating element. Cook for about six minutes, or until the chicken is brown in spots. Flip the pieces over and slide the grill rack back into the oven. Grill for another nine minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and lightly charred in spots. If the chicken browns too much or too quickly, put the pan further away from the heat.
• Leave the chicken pieces at room temperature for about five minutes, then slice about 1cm (7/16 in) thick.
• Take a few strands of rice vermicelli and dip them into the nuoc cham, then taste. If the sauce is too strong, dilute it with a little water.
• Divide the rice vermicelli between four individual serving bowls and place one chicken thigh over each portion. Let the guests add the peanuts, vegetables and herbs to their bowls as they wish, mixing them in along with some nuoc cham.

VERMICELLI NOODLE BOWL | BUN GA NUONG RECIPE

Steps:

• In a blender, combine sugar, garlic, shallots, and lemongrass and process to a fine mixture. Then, add the pepper, soy sauce, fish sauce, and oil. Blend to combine well to get that smooth texture.
• Place the chicken in a ziplock bag, pour the marinade mixture. Toss and turn to coat the chicken well. Seal the ziplock bag and marinate for about an hour or refrigerate up to 24 hours (recommended).
• Once ready to use, let the marinated chicken sit at room temperature or 30 minutes to remove some chill before grilling.
• Preheat a grill to medium-high. Grill the chicken for 6-8 minutes turning them on both sides or until cooked.
• Nick with a knife to test the doneness and transfer to a plate once ready.
• In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and stir well to dissolve the sugar. You can adjust the spiciness, the sweetness and lime according to your taste. Set aside for 20 minutes to let the ingredients mend together.
• Soak the vermicelli noodles in hot water (or check the package instructions). But I cooked the vermicelli for 7 minutes as per package instructions. Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the noodles from sticking together.
• Arrange the noodles in a bowl, top with the toppings and the sliced chicken. Drizzle with the Nuoc Cham sauce (2-3 tbsp or more according to your taste) and serve with lime wedges.

VIETNAMESE NOODLES WITH LEMONGRASS CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine Chicken and Marinade ingredients and set aside for at least 1 hour, up to 24 hours. (Note 4)
• Heat 1/2 tbsp oil in a fry pan over medium heat (or heat the BBQ). Remove chicken from marinade, shaking off large bits of lemongrass (small bits should fall off during cooking).
• Place chicken in the pan and cook each side until dark golden brown and chicken is just cooked through - about 6 to 8 minutes in total.
• Remove from pan, shaking off any remaining bits of visible lemongrass and set aside to rest for 5 minutes. Then slice into thin pieces.
• Combine the Nuoc Cham ingredients and mix well to dissolve the sugar. Adjust to your taste (spiciness, lime, sweetness) and set aside for at least 20 minutes.
• Soak the vermicelli noodles in hot water for 3 minutes (or according to packet instructions), then drain and rinse under cold water to stop the noodles from sticking together.
• Individual servings: Place noodles in bowl. Top with vegetables and herbs, and sliced chicken pieces. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of Nuoc Cham Sauce (be generous, ~ 4 tbsp per serving) and serve with lime wedges.
• DIY (my preferred way): Place chicken, vegetables, herbs, noodles and sauce in separate bowls / piled on platters. Then let everyone make their own bowls!

BUN GA NUONG (GRILLED CHICKEN AND VERMICELLI SALAD)

Steps:

• Mix dressing ingredients together.
• Set aside.
• Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil, add pasta, remove after 3-4 minutes or when almost soft.
• Strain in colander.
• Marinate chicken breasts in the garlic, shallots, salt and pepper and vegetable oil for at least an hour.
• When ready to cook, grill chicken on both sides until done (about 10-15 minutes).
• Cut into bite sized pieces.
• In each of 4 bowls, divide lettuce and cucumbers.
• Top with vermicelli.
• Arrange chicken on top of pasta.
• Pour about 2 ounces of dressing on each salad.
• Sprinkle with fresh mint and peanuts.
• Remove shells from shrimp and clean.
• Saute shrimp in garlic, shallots and vegetable oil.
• Set aside.
• Thinly slice cucumber, carrot, daikon and red onion and mix together in a bowl.
• Add dressing and set aside.
• Heat grill.
• Season shrimp with salt and pepper and 1T of the chopped basil.
• Grill on both sides and removed when cooked (less than 5 minutes).
• Put cucumber and carrot mixture in the middle of each of 4 plates.
• Arrange shrimp around, then sprinkle with remaining chopped basil, mint peanuts and fried shallots.