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Meat, South and Southeast Asian

Mì Quảng with pork and shrimp

Mì Quảng is a Vietnamese dish of wide turmeric rice noodles served with very little broth, pork, shrimp and peanuts. This version for 4 people takes 45 minutes, is medium difficulty, and costs €3.50 per serving. The key to getting it right is the amount of broth, just enough to moisten the noodles, never a soup.

Tonight, mì Quảng, those wide turmeric rice noodles served with very little broth, pork, shrimp, peanuts and a crispy rice cracker.

Mì Quảng with pork and shrimp
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€3.50
Calories per person
480 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Spring, Fall

Mì Quảng always surprises people expecting a broth like phở. Here, the wide, turmeric yellow noodles barely sit in a concentrated pork and shrimp jus, almost a sauce rather than a soup. The result combines the tenderness of slow cooked pork, the crunch of crumbled rice cracker, and the fresh scent of cilantro, with peanuts adding texture to every bite.

This is a dish to make on an evening when you have a bit more time, or on a Sunday if you're hosting friends curious about Vietnamese cooking. It requires assembling each bowl with care, which makes it less suited to a rushed weeknight dinner. Kids used to milder flavors might be thrown off by the fish sauce and cilantro, but more adventurous eaters love how customizable each bowl is.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Wide rice noodlesoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Turmericoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Fish sauceoften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Chicken brothoften in the pantry 60 cl
  • Roasted peanutsoften in the pantry 50 g
  • Sesame rice crackersoften in the pantry 4
  • Neutral oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp

Butcher

  • Pork shoulder 300 g

Fish counter

  • Peeled shrimp 250 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Shallots 3
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Lettuce 1
  • Cilantro 1 bunch

Allergens Peanuts, Shellfish, Fish, Soy, Sesame

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the shallots and garlic in the oil with the turmeric, add the sliced pork and brown it. 8 min

    Turmeric adds color and flavor, don't let it burn.

  2. Add the fish sauce and broth, then let it simmer gently to reduce. 15 min

    It should reduce to just a little sauce, like a concentrated jus.

  3. Drop the shrimp into the sauce and cook for 3 minutes. 3 min

    Pink and firm means they're done.

  4. Cook the wide noodles, then drain them. 5 min

    Rinse them briefly in warm water to keep them from sticking together.

  5. Arrange lettuce, noodles, pork and shrimp with a little of the jus, crushed peanuts, cilantro and crumbled rice crackers.

    Crumble the sesame rice cracker at the very last moment for the best crunch.

Our tips to get it right

  • Choose wide, flat rice noodles, not thin vermicelli, they give mì Quảng its signature texture.
  • Prep all the toppings before you assemble the bowls, this dish is served warm and built at the table like a composed salad.
  • Taste the jus before serving, it needs to be well seasoned since each bowl only gets a few spoonfuls.

The variations

  • Swap the pork shoulder for sliced chicken breast for a lighter cooking time.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the pork and shrimp with pan fried firm tofu and shiitake mushrooms, and use vegetable broth with a splash of soy sauce instead of fish sauce.
  • To save time, use precooked flat rice noodles from the store and skip cooking fresh noodles.

What to serve it with

  • Iced Vietnamese green tea
  • Lime wedges for squeezing
  • Fresh chili slices for heat

Storage

Store the pork and its jus separately from the noodles and toppings, in sealed containers, for up to 2 days in the fridge. The pork jus freezes well for up to 2 months. Reheat the pork gently in a pan over low heat, and prepare the noodles and toppings fresh right before serving.

Questions about this dish

Can you make mì Quảng ahead of time?

You can cook the pork and its jus a day ahead, the flavor actually deepens overnight. Just cook the noodles and assemble the bowls right before serving so the rice cracker stays crunchy.

What can replace fish sauce if I don't have any?

Salted soy sauce can work in a pinch, though the flavor won't be quite as authentic. The dish will still taste good, just a bit further from the original Vietnamese version.

Why is there so little broth in this dish?

That's what sets mì Quảng apart from other Vietnamese noodle soups. The concentrated jus coats the noodles without drowning them, so every ingredient keeps its own texture.

How can you make this dish more kid friendly?

Cut back on the cilantro and serve the fish sauce on the side instead of mixed in. That way kids can build their own bowl and choose what they add.

How long does it take to make a mì Quảng with pork and shrimp?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in a mì Quảng with pork and shrimp?

About 480 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a mì Quảng with pork and shrimp cost?

About €3.50 per serving, or €14.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains peanuts, shellfish, fish, soy, sesame. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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