Pei Wei Asian Diner Nem Nuong Lemongrass Meatballs Recipes

NEM NUONG (VIETNAMESE GRILLED PORK PATTIES)

Steps:

• Using food processor, process garlic until finely pureed. Combine pork, garlic, salt, pepper and sugar in mixing bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl, combine baking powder and water and stir. Mixture will bubble and foam. Add one drop of food coloring or caramel syrup (this adds color to the pork when grilled).
• Fold the baking powder into mixture and allow meat to chill for about 30 minutes to 1 hour or longer. The baking powder forms air bubbles and adds more bouncier or spongier texture.
• Refrigerate meat mixture a few hours to let it set for easier handling while forming patties, balls or flattened mini sausages. Keep a bowl of water handy and your hands wet for easy handling.
• Grill or pan fry about 4-5 minutes per side.
• Serve with Nuoc Cham and vermicelli (bean thread), if desired.
• To make Nuoc Cham: In a bowl, mash the garlic with the sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
• To make Bun Nem Noung: Place vermicelli in boiling water for about 6-8 minutes, stirring regularly to keep from sticking to the bottom of the pot. To check for doneness, take a strand and taste. It should be still slightly firm but easily breaks apart. Drain and flush with cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Combine vermicelli in bowls with nem nuong (pork patties), fresh herbs, pickled carrots and daikon, fried shallots and/or crushed roasted peanuts and dress with Nuoc Cham (sauce).

PEI WEI ASIAN DINER MIEN GA (VIETNAMESE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP)

Steps:

• Place chicken stock, kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, lemongrass, and galangal in a large sauce pan. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce to a very low simmer.
• Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn off heat and reserve until you are ready to serve.
• Place your bowls onto plates big enough so they have room for garnishes.
• Reheat broth to a boil for 15 seconds. Fill each bowl with 2 oz of cooked rice noodles, 1/4 cup of tomatoes, 1/4 cup of carrots, 1 Tbsp of Scallions, and approximately 4 oz of pulled chicken.
• Ladle hot broth over ingredients into bowl until bowl is 3/4 full.
• Place a lime wedge, jalapeno rings, bean sprouts, cilantro, thai basil on each plate for garnish. Serve and place Sriracha and Hoisin on the table for extra flavor.

PEI WEI ASIAN DINER CARAMEL CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Combine sugar and water in a high sided sauce pot. Bring to boil and simmer until the sugar turns a dark caramel color, but not burnt. Do not stir the sugar while cooking or it may crystallize.
• Add the chicken broth (the broth will boil quickly and spatter because of the hot sugar so be careful. This is the reason for the high sided pan).
• Stir in the broth and continue stirring over low heat until the sugar dissolves, then add the fish sauce and soy sauce. Set aside.
• Combine Vietnamese vinaigrette ingredients to a medium bowl and add cucumbers, red bell peppers and carrots. Marinate until ready to use.
• Season the chicken pieces with the salt.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large dutch oven and brown the chicken pieces on all sides. Set aside.
• In the same pan, (using the extra vegetable oil if needed) saute the ginger, garlic, red onion, and jalapeno over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until soft and fragrant.
• Add the browned chicken pieces and the caramel sauce to the dutch oven, turning the chicken in the caramel broth to coat all sides. Arrange the chicken in the pan so it is all submerged in the sauce as much as possible and bring the pot to a boil.
• Cover the pot, put in the oven and braise until done (35-45 minutes). While chicken is cooking, assemble the green onion, pineapple chunks and the other herbs and set aside.
• Just before serving, add in the green onions and pineapple chunks and stir well. Serve the chicken over your favorite rice or rice vermicelli.Top with portion of Vietnamese vinaigrette slaw.

VIETNAMESE BBQ PORK MEATBALLS (NEM NUONG)

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the pork, shallots, garlic, sugar, fish sauce and pepper. Stir to combine well, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight. Transfer to the freezer for 30 minutes, or until the mixture is partially frozen.
• Place the rice in a small skillet and heat over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until rice is toasted, golden brown and fragrant. Transfer to a plate to cool. When cool, place rice in a coffee grinder and process to a fine powder. Measure 3 tablespoons of the powder and set aside. Save any remaining powder for another purpose or discard.
• Transfer the partially frozen meat mixture to a food processor and process to a completely smooth but stiff paste. Add the pork fat to the processor and process until smooth or finely chopped. Add the roasted rice powder and pulse several times to combine the mixture. Do not over process or the mixture will become sticky.
• Preheat a grill to medium-low.
• Transfer the meat mixture to a small bowl. Lightly oil your hands. Divide meat mixture into heaping 1 1/2 tablespoonfuls and roll each into a smooth ball. Recoat your hands with oil, as necessary. Thread the meatballs onto the bamboo skewers, fitting as many as you can on each skewer.
• Coat the grill lightly with oil and grill the skewered meatballs, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PEI WEI ASIAN DINER THAI BLAZING NOODLES

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and whisk until evenly mixed. Reserve sauce.
• Cut chicken breast into ¾ inch squares. Whisk eggs, milk, salt & white pepper together. Place potato starch in a mixing bowl. Dredge chicken through egg wash then dust in potato starch. Shake chicken in a strainer to remove excess starch.
• Heat 2 qts of water in a large sauce pan. Once boiling, cook chicken for 3-4 minutes or until cooked all the way through. (This helps pre-cook the chicken). Drain on paper towels and reserve.
• In a flat bottom wok or a large sauté pan, heat 1 Tbsp of vegetable oil until smoking hot. Add minced garlic and tomatoes & return the chicken to the sauce then sauté for 5-10 seconds.
• Add noodles, snap peas and carrots. Add the Blazing Sauce and toss to coat noodles evenly. Simmer and toss until sauce is 90% absorbed into the noodles. Dish should not be dry or overly saucy.
• Add green scallion sticks, basil and cilantro. Toss well and pour into 4 bowls evenly.