FoodGrilled
Grilled pork rolls of Ninh Hoa
Nem nướng Ninh Hòa
Sweet grilled pork sausage rolled at the table in rice paper with herbs, green banana and crispy rice crackers, then dipped in a rich, thick sauce. A speciality from just north of the city.
Ninh Hòa is a town a little over thirty kilometres north of Nha Trang, and its name is known across Vietnam for one dish. Nem nướng Ninh Hòa is grilled pork sausage, served with a table full of fresh ingredients so you can roll your own.
What comes to the table
The pork is seasoned, shaped onto bamboo sticks and grilled over charcoal until it is lightly charred and fragrant. It arrives with a stack of rice paper, a basket of fresh herbs and lettuce, slices of green banana, star fruit and cucumber, pickled vegetables and crisp fried rice paper rolls that add crunch.
How to roll
Lay a sheet of rice paper flat. Add a lettuce leaf and some herbs, a piece of pork, a few slices of banana and star fruit, and a stick of crispy rice paper. Fold in the sides and roll it up firmly. Dip it in the sauce and eat it in a few bites. It takes a couple of tries to get right, which is half the fun.
The sauce
The dipping sauce is the secret of the dish, and every family that makes it has its own recipe. It is thick and savoury, often made with ground pork, rice, garlic and other ingredients, and served warm in small bowls. It is very different from the light fish sauce dips eaten with most Vietnamese rolls.
A dish to share
Nem nướng is a social meal. Groups sit around low tables, rolling and talking for an hour or more. You can find it in Nha Trang itself, but if you are driving north towards Dốc Lết beach or the Ba Hồ waterfalls, a stop in Ninh Hòa is a fine excuse for lunch.
Sample editorial content. This article was written for the Just in Nha Trang demo. Opening hours, prices and practical details are deliberately general and will be checked on the ground before publication.
In pictures
