Ingredients

• 8 ounces dried rice vermicelli or 1 pound fresh bun
• 8 romaine lettuce leaves, ribs removed, julienned
• 2 carrots, peeled and julienned
• 1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced into crescents
• 12 large mint leaves, julienned
• Nuoc Cham, as needed, recipe follows
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1/3 cup fish sauce
• 1/2 cup lime or lemon juice
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 1 or more bird's eye or Thai chiles, seeded and minced
• 1 shallot, peeled, thinly sliced, and rinsed (optional)

Instructions

1. If using dried rice vermicelli, place it in a bowl and cover with lukewarm water. Let stand until pliable, about 20 minutes. Bring a pot of hot water to a boil. Drain and divide the rice vermicelli into 4 equal portions. Place 1 portion at a time in a sieve and lower it into the boiling water. Untangle the noodles with chopsticks and boil until tender but firm, about 3 seconds. Remove, drain, and place in a large bowl. Repeat this step until you have 4 individual servings. If using fresh bun, there is no need to boil them.
2. Divide the noodles among 4 bowls. Scatter some lettuce, carrot, cucumber, and mint over each bowl. Drizzle with nuoc cham and toss well.
3. Whisk together the sugar, water, fish sauce, and lime juice in a bowl until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the garlic, chile, and shallot, and let stand for 30 minutes before serving.
4. Yield: 2 cups Preparation Time: 5 minutes Cooking Time: 5 minutes Non-Active Cooking Time: 30 minutes