Nem Nuong Spring Rolls (Printable version)
Vietnamese-style rolls featuring grilled pork sausage, crisp vegetables, rice noodles, and aromatic herbs wrapped in delicate rice paper.
# Ingredient list:
→ 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 - 0.5 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)
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, combine ground pork, minced garlic, sugar, fish sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, black pepper, and 1 tbsp oil. Mix thoroughly until sticky and well combined. Wet your hands with water and shape the mixture into 8 sausage-shaped logs.
02 - Preheat a grill pan or grill over medium-high heat. Grill the pork sausages for 10-12 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
03 - In a small bowl, mix fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and water until dissolved. Stir in minced garlic and sliced chili. Adjust sweetness or acidity to taste.
04 - Rinse and dry the lettuce, mint, and cilantro. Julienne cucumber and carrot.
05 - Fill a large shallow dish with warm water. Dip a rice paper wrapper into the water for 5-7 seconds, until just pliable. Lay the wrapper on a clean, damp towel.
06 - Place a lettuce leaf on the lower third of the wrapper. Top with a small bundle of vermicelli, some cucumber, carrot, and a few mint and cilantro leaves. Add one grilled pork sausage. Fold the sides of the wrapper inward, then roll up tightly from the bottom to enclose the filling.
07 - Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 8 rolls. Serve immediately with dipping sauce.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The contrast between warm grilled pork and cool crisp vegetables creates pure magic in every bite
- Each roll becomes a personalized masterpiece when everyone assembles their own at the table
- The dipping sauce ties everything together with that perfect sweet tangy punch
02 -
- Over soaking the rice paper is the number one mistake beginners make that leads to torn and frustrating rolls
- The pork sausages can be grilled ahead and served warm or at room temperature without losing any flavor
- Keep all your ingredients prepped and within arms reach before you start rolling because speed matters once that wrapper is wet
03 -
- Set up a rolling station with all ingredients within reach before you wet that first wrapper
- The pork mixture can be made ahead and kept refrigerated for up to 24 hours before grilling