Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi Fried Rice

Ingredients for Vietnamese Pork Meatball Banh Mi Fried Rice

• 1 small daikon radish, peeled and cut into matchsticks

• 1 large carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 240ml distilled white vinegar

• 240ml water

• 80ml granulated sugar

• 1 stalk lemongrass, root end trimmed, outer leaves removed, finely sliced (white part only

• about 2 tablespoons )

• 2 cloves garlic

• 2 spring onions

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

• 1 tablespoon sriracha

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt

• 450g pork mince

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

• 5 spring onions, ends trimmed, cut into 1” lengths

• 950ml cold cooked rice

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

• 1 tablespoon sriracha, plus more for serving

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander

Combine the daikon and carrot on a colander set in the sink. Sprinkle with salt, and massage the vegetables until they’re bendable and have expelled their liquid. In a medium bowl, combine the vinegar, water, and sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the carrot and daikon, pressing to make sure the vegetables are mostly submerged. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour before using, and up to several weeks.

In a food processor, combine the lemongrass, garlic, and spring onions. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the fish sauce, sriracha, salt, and pork; pulse until just combined. (Alternatively, you can very finely chop the lemongrass, garlic, and spring onions by hand or use a mortar and pestle, then mix with the remaining ingredients. Filling can be made several days ahead and refrigerated.) Roll the meat mixture into heaping teaspoon-size meatballs (alternatively, you can roll just half into meatballs and use a combination of pork mince and meatballs in the fried rice).

Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. (If you rolled only half the mixture into meatballs, now sauté the pork mince in the pan until cooked through, then transfer to the plate.) Add the spring onions and sauté until browned, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and sauté until warmed through and softened, then continue sautéing until the rice seems firm again, about 3 minutes. Add the meatballs and cook until warmed through. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, fish sauce, and sriracha. Drizzle the mixture over the rice and stir until evenly coated.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.