Vietnamese Pork Skewers ~ Bun Cha

Ingredients

• 5 shallots minced
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 3 ounces lemongrass minced
• 5 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons sunflower oil plus more for cooking
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/4 pounds pork belly not too fatty
• 7 ounces rice vermicelli noodles
• 4 1/4 cups water
• salt unchecked▢
• 16 butter lettuce leaves
• 12 tia to Vietnamese perilla leaves, or substitute basil
• 12 fresh mint leaves
• 3/4 cup sliced cucumber
• 2/3 cup pickled carrots
• 2/3 cup pickled onions
• 16 sprigs fresh cilantro
• dipping sauce unchecked▢ Spring roll, for serving