Vietnamese Beef Noodle Salad (Bún Bò Nam Bộ)

Bún Bò Nam Bộ is a popular Vietnamese beef noodle salad in Hanoi and we used to eat it a lot during our holiday there. This dish and bun cha are among the most beloved noodle street food dishes in the capital city. A bowl of this tasty noodle bowl is usually substantial enough to be a full meal by itself.

The Vietnamese name of this dish in Hanoi means a beef noodle dish from the South, while in the South of Vietnam, it is more commonly known as bún bò xào. I know, it sounds rather convoluted! There is also a pork version of this noodle salad in Saigon, called bun thit xao which I equally enjoy.

It is super easy to replicate bún bò Nam Bộ at home. Stir-fried beef and colorful vegetables and herbs are placed on a bed of soft vermicelli noodles. To make it even more delicious, we sprinkle it with crunchy fried shallots and roasted peanuts. We then drizzle Vietnamese signature fish sauce dressing over the salad and give it a good mix before eating. Simple as it may sound, it is a feast to the eyes and stomach. I think this dish says quite a lot about Vietnamese cuisine which values a fresh, pure and clean taste.

• 1 lb beef
• 1 1/2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• cooking oil
• 1 tablespoon minced lemongrass, white parts only
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

• 3 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 juicy lime)
• 3 1/2 tablespoons warm water
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2-3 teaspoons sugar
• 1-2 teaspoons minced garlic

• rice vermicelli noodles, prepared according to package instructions
• lettuce or micro greens
• bean sprouts
• 1 carrot, julienned
• 1 cucumber, julienned
• cilantro, roughly chopped
• mint
• fried shallots
• roasted peanuts