Feasting With Moo Cow

Simple Vietnamese Meatballs (Nem Nuong) – Easiest Pot Luck Dish!

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Nem nuong is a delicious Vietnamese grilled pork meatball that balances sweet and savoury flavours in one bite. It pairs well with fresh herbs and vermicelli noodles! The quick and easy preparation makes it a great option for pot lucks.

Nem nuong

This only requires simple household ingredients. Garlic, green onions, shallot, black pepper, and fish sauce. The only ingredients you may not have readily available are curing powder and minced pork. I recommend purchasing curing powder by “Tusino” from Asian supermarkets.

To prep the nem nuong, combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly using your hands. It is important to give your mince a quick taste test by microwaving a small portion of the meat and tasting it. Let the meat rest overnight in the fridge for maximum flavour. Form ball with the mince and cook the balls in a convection oven. You can also use an airfryer, although I haven’t tried it myself and I prefer to be able to see my meatballs while they are cooking!

What to eat with Nem Nuong

The best part about making nem nuong is that it can be eaten with almost anything! Rice, noodles, rice or banh mi.

Vietnamese Pork Meat Balls – Nem Nuong

Nem nướng is a flavourful grilled pork dish with a blend of sweet and savory flavours that can be eaten with rice, vermicelli noodles, in a bánh mì, or on its own. It's versatility makes it a great option for meal prepping
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Cuisine Vietnamese
Servings 4 serves

Equipment

  • Convection Oven Or airfryer

Ingredients
  

  • 1 kg Pork mince
  • 2 cloves Chopped garlic
  • Chopped green onions
  • 1 Diced shallot
  • 1/2 tsp of black pepper
  • 3/4 cup of curing powder this can be purchased in Asian markets

Instructions
 

  • Combine the chopped garlic, green onions, and diced shallots in a bowl.
  • Add the minced pork, black pepper and curing powder to the bowl.
  • Mix well using your hands. Punch the seasoned mince so it gives a better texture.
  • Assemble a small ball of mince (1x1x1cm) and microwave for 15 seconds to determine if more curing powder is needed.
  • Let the meat sit (cure) overnight in the fridge. If you are on a time crunch, please allow a minimum of 30 minutes for curing.
  • Assemble the pork mince into ball shapes.
  • Pre-heat oven to 210°C for 5 minutes.
  • Assemble the pork balls and ensure the balls are not touching.
  • Cook the meatballs for 15 minutes at 210°C . Flip, and cook for another 10 minutes, or until lightly charred.
  • Serve with vermicelli noodes, rice or banh mi.

Notes

You can use the same cooking parameters as for the convection oven if cooking in an air fryer.
For optimal flavour, let the seasoned meat sit overnight in the fridge. At the bare minimum, let the seasoned meat marinate for a minimum of 1 hour. 

About Me

Hi! I’m Moo Cow, I post Asian and authentic Vietnamese recipes on this blog. If you have any special requests, feel free to DM me on my socials!