In the Czech Republic, bún bò Nam Bộ may be even more popular than phở. Almost every Vietnamese bistro has it on the lunch menu. It is a warm “salad” of rice noodles, stir-fried beef, fresh vegetables, herbs and roasted peanuts, dressed with a sweet and sour sauce. Here is where the dish comes from and how to make it.
What bún bò Nam Bộ means
Bún are thin rice noodles, bò means beef and Nam Bộ is the name for southern Vietnam. Interestingly, the dish was created in Hanoi, in the north. The name refers to its southern style: lots of herbs, a sweeter sauce and no broth, only a little dressing.
What’s in the bowl
- bún rice noodles
- beef marinated in lemongrass, garlic and fish sauce, quickly stir-fried with onion
- lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber
- herbs: mint, Thai basil, perilla, coriander
- pickled carrot and green papaya (đồ chua)
- roasted peanuts and crispy fried shallots
- nước chấm dressing
Bún bò Nam Bộ recipe (4 servings)
Ingredients
- 500 g beef sirloin or tenderloin
- 2 lemongrass stalks, 3 garlic cloves, 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp oil
- 1 onion
- 400 g bún rice noodles
- 1 lettuce, 200 g bean sprouts, 1 cucumber, herbs
- 1 carrot, vinegar and sugar for quick pickling
- 80 g roasted peanuts, 3 tbsp fried shallots
Nước chấm dressing
Mix 4 tbsp fish sauce, 3 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp lime juice, 150 ml warm water, 2 crushed garlic cloves and sliced chilli. For bún bò Nam Bộ, keep it on the sweeter side.
Method
- Slice the beef thinly and marinate for 30 minutes with chopped lemongrass, garlic, fish sauce, sugar and oil.
- Cut the carrot into thin strips and cover with vinegar, sugar and water in a 1 : 1 : 2 ratio. Leave for 20 minutes.
- Cook the noodles according to the packet, rinse in cold water and drain.
- Stir-fry the beef in two batches in a very hot pan or wok for 1 to 2 minutes. Add sliced onion and fry for another minute.
- Put lettuce, sprouts and herbs in each bowl, then noodles and the hot beef with its juices. Add pickled carrot, cucumber, peanuts and shallots.
- Pour over the dressing, toss and serve immediately.
Where to eat bún bò Nam Bộ in Prague
Almost every Vietnamese bistro serves it; Café Buddha’s version is well known. More tips in Vietnamese restaurants in Prague. If you like grilled meat with noodles, try bún chả too.
FAQ
Is bún bò Nam Bộ a soup?
No. It is a noodle salad without broth, with just a little dressing in the bottom of the bowl.
What is the difference between bún bò Nam Bộ and bún bò Huế?
Bún bò Huế is a spicy soup from Central Vietnam. Bún bò Nam Bộ is a noodle salad with no broth.