Speedy Free-range Vietnamese-style Pork Bun Cha

Speedy Free-range Vietnamese-style Pork Bun Cha

Prepared to be whisked off to Hanoi with this Vitenamese-inspired Bun Cha. You'll make your own meatballs with juicy free-range British pork mince, honey, ginger and garlic. Dress carrot ribbons with a fresh and tangy chilli sauce. Serve the noodles in a delicate and warming broth.

Ready in 20 High protein 5 plants

Serving size

Cook time: 20 mins
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Food group: Pork
Allergens: Soya
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Cooking Instructions

The protein cooking time listed in this recipe has been updated.

As of December 2025, we’ve revised cooking times for all our proteins to reflect improved food safety guidance.

Check out the latest recommended times in our Cooking Guidelines.

Before you start

  • Preheat the oven to 220C / 200C fan / gas 7
  • Line a baking tray with parchment paper
  • Bring a medium saucepan filled with salted water to a boil
  • Boil a half-full kettle
  • Pull out another medium saucepan, a peeler, a sieve, a measuring jug, a medium bowl & a large bowl

Make the meatballs & cook the noodles

  • Add the pork mince to the large bowl, along with half the honey, half the ginger & garlic paste and a generous pinch of salt and pepper
  • Mix well and shape into 10 meatballs. Add the pork meatballs to the lined baking tray and bake for 15 mins
  • Meanwhile, add the noodles to the saucepan of boiling water, gently separate with a fork and boil for 3-4 mins, until cooked. Drain, then rinse under cold water

Make the carrot salad

  • Peel the carrot into ribbons. Halve the lime. Deseed and finely dice the chilli
  • Squeeze the juice from the lime into the medium bowl, then add the carrot, vinegar, diced chilli and remaining honey. Mix well and season with salt

Build the broth

  • Trim and thinly slice the pak choi. Halve the mangetout
  • Heat the other medium saucepan with 1 tsp oil on medium-high heat. Once hot, add the mangetout and pak choi and cook for 3-4 mins, until lightly charred
  • Add 500ml boiling water (250ml for 1 person) to the saucepan, along with the stock powder, tamari and remaining ginger & garlic paste
  • Simmer for 1-2 mins, until the stock has dissolved and the veg is soft. Season to taste

Plate up

  • Check your meat is cooked through; it should be golden brown, steaming hot, the juices should run clear when cut and there should be no pink / rare meat inside
  • Share the noodles and broth between bowls, topped with the meatballs and carrot salad. Drizzle over the chilli paste and any juices from the carrot bowl

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