Bún Tôm Thịt Bằm (Ground Pork & Shrimp Noodle Soup)
Made with simple, accessible supermarket ingredients like ground pork, fresh shrimp, and juicy tomatoes, this quick Vietnamese shrimp and pork noodle soup comes together in under an hour with zero hassle. It's light, naturally sweet, kid-friendly, and perfect for quick weeknight dinners!
Ingredients
Soup Base & Toppings
- 1.5 lb Ground pork medium or lean (avoid extra lean--too dry)
- 1 lb Colossal or Jumbo shrimp size 16/20 preferably
- 3-4 Roma tomatoes cut into wedges
- 1 cup Button mushrooms halved
- 2 tbsp Shallots minced
- 1 tbsp Garlic minced
- 1-2 stalks Green onions white part minced for pork marinade
- 2 tbsp Chicken bouillon
- 2 tbsp Fish sauce
- 3-4 pieces Rock sugar or 1 tbsp of granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp Neutral oil
- 6-8 cups Water
Noodles & Garnishes
- 1 package Rice vermicelli noodles Bún noodles
- Fresh lettuce
- Mint
- Green onions finely chopped
- Cilantro finely chopped
- Fried shallots
- Fresno chilies sliced
Instructions
- Peel and Devein the Shrimp: Peel and devein the shrimp. Separate half of them and smash them to release more shrimp flavor into the broth. Leave aside.
- Prep: Cut tomatoes into wedges, mushrooms in halves, and finely chop green onions and cilantro for garnish.
- Marinate Pork: Combine ground pork with green onion whites, 1 tsp chicken bouillon, 1 tbsp fish sauce, and ½ tsp black pepper.
- Sear the Pork and Tomatoes & Build the Broth: Sear pork and aromatics in a pot. Add tomatoes and cook until soft. Add water, seasonings, and rock sugar. Simmer, skimming the top to keep it clear.
- Sear Shrimp: Quickly sear shrimp with aromatics and annatto oil in a separate pan for 1–2 minutes. Add to the broth 5 minutes before serving.
- Cook Noodles & Assemble: Boil noodles, rinse in cold water, and drain. Assemble in bowls with lettuce, noodles, broth, and fresh garnishes.
Notes
- The "Clear Broth" Rule: Always use a fine-mesh strainer to skim the foam after adding the pork—it ensures your soup looks clear, light, and appetizing.
- The Secret Aroma: Don't forget the fried shallots! That extra hit of crunch and aroma is essential for recreating the authentic street-food experience at home.
- Prep Efficiency: You can chop your tomatoes and aromatics ahead of time, which makes this dish come together even faster on busy days!