9 Diamond - Cao Lầu

Cao Lầu


Hoi An Turmeric Noodles with Pork

A unique noodle dish from Hoi An with chewy turmeric noodles, slices of seasoned pork, fresh herbs, and crispy rice crackers, served with minimal broth.

Other variations:

Cao lầu thịt heo, Cao lầu gà, Cao lầu tôm, Cao lầu chay

Category

Noodle Dish

Region

Central Vietnam

Preparation Time

1h15

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

About this recipe

Cao Lầu is a culinary symbol of Hoi An, influenced by Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese cooking. The noodles are traditionally made using water drawn from the ancient Bá Lễ well, giving them their distinctive texture and color.

Ingredients List

400 g turmeric noodles 300 g pork shoulder (thinly sliced) 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp fish sauce 2 cloves garlic (minced) 1/2 tsp five-spice powder 500 ml pork stock 1 cup bean sprouts fresh herbs (basil, mint, cilantro) 2–3 sesame rice crackers fried shallots to garnish

Materials & Tools

Large pot wok or frying pan mixing bowls knife and chopping board serving bowls

Preparation steps

Total Time :

1h15

Active Time :

1h15

Cooking Time

Step 1

Marinate Pork

Marinate pork with soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, five-spice 30+ min.

30 min

Step 2

Cook Pork

Sear pork until caramelized, simmer briefly in stock.

20 min

Step 3

Cook Noodles

Boil cao lầu noodles, drain.

10 min

Step 4

Assemble Bowl

Add noodles, bean sprouts, herbs, pork slices.

5 min

Step 5

Add Broth

Spoon a little pork stock over noodles.

5 min

Step 6

Garnish

Top with fried shallots and rice crackers.

5 min

Step 7

Step 8

Chef’s Tips

Authentic noodles from Hoi An have a special chewiness; avoid overcooking to keep texture.

Serving Suggestions

Fresh herbs, lime wedges, chili paste, extra rice crackers

Nutritional info

420kcal
24g protein
11g fat
58g carbs

You Might Also Like

4 Heart - Bún Cha Cá
Bún Chả Cá
A light and savory noodle soup with chewy fish cakes, tomatoes, and fresh herbs, popular in coastal cities like Đà Nẵng and Nha Trang.
1 Spade - Phở
Phở
A fragrant Vietnamese beef noodle soup with delicate rice noodles served in a clear, aromatic broth.
5 Diamond - Nem Lụi
Nem Lụi
Fragrant grilled pork skewers wrapped around lemongrass stalks, served with fresh herbs, rice paper, and a rich dipping sauce.
9 Club - Bánh Xèo
Bánh Xèo
Thin, crispy turmeric pancakes filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts, served with fresh herbs and lettuce for wrapping, plus a sweet-sour dipping sauce.

Discover More Vietnamese Recipes

Explore our complete collection of Vietnamese Dishes, from Street Food favorites to traditional family recipes.