Vietnamese Grilled Pork Spring Rolls (Printable Version)
Grilled pork and fresh vegetables wrapped in delicate rice paper with aromatic herbs
# What You Need:
→ Nem Nuong (Grilled Pork Sausage)
01 - 1.1 lbs ground pork (20% fat preferred)
02 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
03 - 2 tbsp sugar
04 - 1 tbsp fish sauce
05 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
06 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
07 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
08 - 1 tbsp neutral oil
→ Spring Roll Assembly
09 - 8 large rice paper wrappers
10 - 3.5 oz rice vermicelli noodles, cooked and cooled
11 - 1 small cucumber, julienned
12 - 1 large carrot, julienned
13 - 8 large lettuce leaves (romaine or green leaf)
14 - 1 bunch fresh mint
15 - 1 bunch fresh cilantro
→ Dipping Sauce (Nuoc Cham)
16 - 3 tbsp fish sauce
17 - 2 tbsp lime juice
18 - 2 tbsp sugar
19 - 2 tbsp water
20 - 1 clove garlic, minced
21 - 1 small red chili, finely sliced (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Combine ground pork, minced garlic, sugar, fish sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, black pepper, and 1 tbsp oil in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until the mixture becomes sticky and well combined.
02 - Wet hands with water and shape the pork mixture into 8 sausage-shaped logs. Preheat grill pan or outdoor grill over medium-high heat. Grill sausages for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Set aside to cool slightly.
03 - Whisk together fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and water in a small bowl until completely dissolved. Stir in minced garlic and sliced chili. Adjust sweetness or acidity to personal preference.
04 - Rinse and thoroughly dry lettuce, mint, and cilantro. Julienne cucumber and carrot into thin, uniform strips.
05 - Fill a large shallow dish with warm water. Dip a rice paper wrapper into water for 5-7 seconds until just pliable. Lay wrapper on a clean, damp towel to prevent tearing.
06 - Place a lettuce leaf on the lower third of the wrapper. Add a small bundle of vermicelli, julienned cucumber, carrot, and a few mint and cilantro leaves. Position one grilled pork sausage on top. Fold both sides inward, then roll tightly from bottom to completely enclose the filling.
07 - Repeat assembly process with remaining ingredients to create 8 rolls total. Serve immediately accompanied by the prepared dipping sauce.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between warm grilled pork and cool crisp vegetables hits every satisfying texture at once
- Rolling them together becomes a fun communal activity perfect for gatherings
02 -
- Rice paper continues to soften after you remove it from water, so err on the side of under-soaking
- Work quickly once the wrapper is pliable or it will dry out and become brittle again
03 -
- If your rice paper tears while rolling, patch it with a small piece of a fresh wrapper dampened with water
- The grilled pork freezes beautifully, so double the batch and save half for a quick meal later