Hu Tieu Nam Vang (Vietnamese Pork and Prawn Clear Noodle Soup)

This Vietnamese Hu Tieu Nam Vang is going to make every weekend meal a treat! You’ll be amazed by the broth’s smoky chargrill flavor and how incredibly EASY it is to make all the toppings. It’s one of those noodle soups you can have any time of the year!

The Noodle Soup For Every Occasion

If there was a noodle soup I could have every meal of the day, it would be a serving of Hu Tieu Nam Vang, the most magnificent Cambodian-Chinese-Vietnamese fusion.

Every Vietnamese or Cambodian restaurant I walk into will have at least one person slurping down a bowl, and there’s no mistaking why: the dish is light, beautifully flavorful and topped with a variety of meats.

There’s just no dish quite like it!

Still, nothing beats homemade. This is one of those noodle soups where the soup is so wonderfully clean, making it in your own kitchen lets you add ingredients that will INSTANTLY take it to a whole new level.

Our version of Hu Tieu Nam Vang turns the ever popular dish into one that you’ll even want to serve to the most difficult of friends!

We start by adding chargrilled onions, ginger and squid for a broth that’s full of smoky flavor, then balance it out with sweetness from slow cooked meats and vegetables.

It pairs perfectly with clear rice noodles, a slightly chewier cousin of the classic phở.

And as always, our recipes promise to be authentic - intestines, liver and crispy lard included. Our homemade Hu Tieu Nam Vang stays true to its roots!

Why this recipe works

• Chargrilling the onion, ginger and squid adds a smoky depth to the broth for incredible flavor.
• The soup gets naturally sweet from added daikon and meat.
• Panfrying the marinated ground pork ensures that every layer in the dish is well seasoned.
• Pre-soaking the noodles before cooking softens the inside and makes it much faster to get an al dente texture when boiling.

What you’ll need

Don’t be fooled by the extensive list of ingredients! They’re SUPER easy to prepare and will last many servings!

For the Broth

We get dried squid and shrimp in the dried produce section of the local Asian grocery store and come in sealed plastic bags.

The jicama can be found in the fresh produce parts of Asian supermarkets, but if you can’t find it then substitute it for white radish (daikon). You can even use both!

For the Crackling Pork Lard

This is entirely optional, but adds a delicious crispiness to the dish. You can also get it fairly cheap from the butcher.

For the Mince

For the stock, use the one already cooking for this recipe.

The Toppings

You can skip on any of these toppings if they’re not for you and just have more of your favorite ones!

Time-saving tip: Buy canned quail eggs and cooked prawns from the shops.

The Noodles

Hu tieu noodles are sold in many Asian shops and look slightly transparent when dry. These ‘clear’ rice noodles will remain semi-transparent even when cooked.

The Garnish

You can find all of these fresh herbs and greens sold in bundles at the local Asian supermarket.

How to make this recipe

The Broth

Start by charring the ginger, onion and squid over an open flame until blackened, then scrape away the car and put them straight into the broth.

Note: If you don’t have a gas stove for this option, put them in the broiler for 20 minutes and turn them every few minutes for the same result.

Add the lean pork meat, jicama, rehydrated shrimp, chicken bouillon powder, salt, fish sauce and sugar into the broth.

The Crispy Pork Lard

Meanwhile, put the pork fat cubes in a pan and fry them on a low to medium heat until golden. When ready, scoop the crispy cubes out into a serving bowl.

Note: You can choose to keep the oil as lard for future cooking or dispose of it.

The Mince

Mix the pork mince with the chicken bouillon powder, salt and stock.

Heat up a pan to a medium heat, add the cooking oil (or lard) in and brown the garlic. Pour in the mince and cook for 10 minutes or until ready.

Transfer the cooked mince into a serving bowl.

The Pork Intestines, Liver, Heart and Meat

Bring a pot of water to the boil and put the intestines in to cook for 40 minutes or until soft. Drain then cut into 3 cm (1.2″ segments).

In a clean pot, fill it with new water and bring to the boil before cooking the liver for 5 minutes or until firm. Remove the liver from the water and slice thinly.

Repeat the previous step with the heart, cooking for 30 minutes or until there are no traces of red. Drain the water and cut into thin slices.

Take the lean pork meat out of the soup and slice thinly before plating it on a serving dish.

The Noodles

About 20 minutes before eating time, soak the clear noodles in cold water for 10 minutes. Heat up a pot of water to boiling point and put the noodles in to cook for 5 minutes or until al dente.

Drain the water then begin assembling your bowl. Serve with fresh garnish and a squeeze of lime!

FAQs

Tips to get it right every time

• Season the broth as you cook. Flavors will deepen as the soup simmers, so keep taste testing as you prepare the ingredients to make sure that you have the broth to your liking.
• Make the stock ahead of time for a richer chicken and pork essence. Use my No-Fail Chicken and Pork Stock recipe for a clear and naturally sweet stock.
• Keep the broth at a constant low simmer. This noodle soup is known for its soup clarity and continually boiling it will turn it murky!

Try these other amazing Vietnamese Noodle Soups!

Other than a classic Hu Tieu Nam Vang, there are many delicious recipes to try:

• Vietnamese Chicken Tapioca Noodle Soup (Bánh Canh Gà) - A family favorite that is cooked numerous times a year. It has simple homey flavors and is much easier to make than other noodle soups.
• Vietnamese Beef Stew (Bò Kho) - Earthy, hearty and the ultimate comfort food. If you’re a beef and noodle soup lover, you can’t skip this one!
• Vietnamese Chicken Curry (Cà Ri Gà) - One of my personal favorites for its creaminess. The broth has a wonderful curry flavor and is cooked with chicken until each bite falls apart in your mouth.
• Bún Bò Huế Chay (Vegetarian Spicy Noodle Soup) - You won’t believe this dish is meatless! It’s packed with spicy lemongrass flavor and worth every minute!

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