Cơm Ném Nướng - Vietnamese Grilled Pork Patties with Rice Paper Rolls

Ingredients

• Ground pork (1 pound)
• Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
• Shallots (2, finely chopped)
• Fish sauce (2 tablespoons)
• Sugar (1 tablespoon)
• Black pepper (1 teaspoon)
• Peanut sauce (1 cup)
• Rice paper sheets (8-10 sheets)
• Lettuce leaves (8-10 leaves)
• Mint leaves (1/2 cup)
• Cucumber (1, julienned)
• Carrot (1, julienned)
• Bean sprouts (1 cup)

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, minced garlic, chopped shallots, fish sauce, sugar, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
2. Shape the mixture into small patties, approximately 2 inches in diameter.
3. Preheat your grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the pork patties for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they are fully cooked and have a nice char.
4. Once cooked, remove the patties from the grill and allow them to cool slightly.
5. Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip one rice paper sheet into the water for a few seconds, just until it becomes pliable, but not too soft.
6. Place the softened rice paper sheet on a clean surface. Layer a lettuce leaf, a few mint leaves, some julienned cucumber and carrot, a handful of bean sprouts, and a grilled pork patty onto the rice paper.
7. Fold the sides of the rice paper over the filling and then roll it up tightly from the bottom, creating a neat roll.
8. Repeat this process with the remaining rice paper sheets and filling ingredients.
9. Serve the grilled pork rolls with peanut sauce for dipping.