Homemade Nem Chua (Fermented Pork Roll)

Ingredients

• 1 kg Pork Shoulder (lean, skinless) (Trim excess fat, cut into 2‑3 cm cubes, pat dry)
• 100 g Granulated Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
• 3 cloves Garlic (Finely minced)
• 2 Bird's Eye Chili (Thinly sliced; adjust for heat)
• 20 g Rau Răm (Vietnamese Coriander) (Roughly chopped)
• 2 Banana Leaf (optional for wrapping) (Cut to size, washed, and lightly brushed with oil)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Pork

   Trim any remaining skin and excess fat from the pork shoulder, cut into 2‑3 cm cubes and pat completely dry with paper towels.

   Time: PT10M

2. First Grind (Coarse)

   Pass the pork cubes through the meat grinder on the coarse setting. Collect the ground meat in a bowl.

   Time: PT5M

3. Second Grind (Fine)

   Grind the meat a second time on the finer setting to achieve a smooth, sticky texture.

   Time: PT5M

4. Season the Meat

   Add sugar, salt, ground black pepper, minced garlic, sliced chili and chopped rau răm to the ground pork. Mix thoroughly with clean hands or a spatula until the mixture becomes sticky and glossy.

   Time: PT10M

5. Pack and Shape

   Divide the seasoned meat into 2‑3 portions. Place each portion in a zip‑lock bag, press out as much air as possible, and shape into a log about 5 cm in diameter. If using banana leaf, wrap each log tightly and tie with kitchen twine or a strip of the leaf.

   Time: PT10M

6. Ferment at Room Temperature

   Place the wrapped logs on a tray and leave them at a stable room temperature (20‑25 °C) for 3 days. Check daily to ensure the surface stays dry; if condensation forms, gently pat it dry.

   Time: PT72H

   Temperature: 20-25°C

7. Refrigerate to Firm Up

   After 3 days, transfer the nem chua to the refrigerator (4 °C) for at least 1 day. This firms the texture and stops further fermentation.

   Time: PT24H

   Temperature: 4°C

8. Slice and Serve

   Remove the nem chua from the refrigerator, unwrap, and slice into 0.5 cm thick rounds. Serve with fresh rau răm, sliced garlic, and additional sliced chili if desired.

   Time: PT5M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

250

Protein

15 g

Carbohydrates

10 g

Fat

15 g

Fiber

0 g