Bún Chả (Grilled Patties with Rice Noodles)

Method

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1. 1Make the sauce first: stir the fish sauce, sugar, vinegar, lime juice and warm water until the sugar dissolves. Add the garlic, chili, carrot and daikon; they will lightly pickle while you cook the patties.
2. 2Knead the ground meat with the shallots, garlic, fish sauce, brown sugar, oyster sauce, pepper and spring onions for 2-3 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. 3With wet hands, shape walnut-size pieces into flat patties about 1 cm thick and 5 cm across; you should get about 16.
4. 4Grill the patties over charcoal if possible, or in a very hot grill pan, for 3-4 minutes per side until deeply caramelized, charred in spots and cooked through. You can also cook them under the oven grill on the top rack for 10-12 minutes.
5. 5Cook the noodles according to the package, rinse under cold water and drain well. Arrange in small portions on a plate.
6. 6Divide the sauce among four bowls and drop the hot patties straight into it; they soak up the sauce while lending it their smoky flavor.
7. 7Serve the noodles, lettuce and herbs on separate plates. To eat, dip a bundle of noodles and a few herbs into your bowl and take them up with a patty.