Nem Nuong with kimchi and Sriracha sliders

From The Ravenous Couple

Kim told me that the kids at the barbecue wanted “American” food, not Vietnamese food. Immediately I felt a bit irked. Our family came to America when I was about 4 years old. We were part of the wave of “boat people” (the b & w photo on the left banner is my family at a refugee camp in Thailand circa 1980-guess which one is me?) and I feel as American as anyone. I love a good classic “American” burger or hot dogs just like anyone else–but besides, if America is such a melting pot of cultures, why not make the flavors of Vietnamese food part of that Americana? Who knows, in 50 yrs something like nem nuong might rival hotdogs…

Nem Nuong with kimchi and Sriracha sliders. Photo from The Ravenous Couple.

So remembering a post of nem nuong sliders by White on Rice Couple, I stubbornly I suggested we make Vietnamese style nem nuong (grilled pork patties) sliders instead…and (pray to God) they’ll love it just the same.

Looking around the fridge, I found a jar of kimchi. There wasn’t any ketchup at her mom’s house, but there were two bottles of Srircha. So why not use Sriracha,as a ketchup sauce?? Great not-too-spicy and garlic flavors match perfectly with the sweet and garlic flavors of nem nuong. You can pan fry or grill the patties, about 2-3 min per side. For the buns, we just used some sweet rolls, slightly buttered and grilled.

For a bit of crunch, I topped it with some fried shallots that I had left from the lotus root salad. So how did the kids like this Vietnamese-Korean-Thai version of American sliders? Big two thumbs up from everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

CLICK HERE FOR THE RECIPE!!!!!