Beef and Shrimp Patties

Beef and shrimp patties is a dish I really enjoy making for my dad and he loves them! It is made with ground meat, fresh shrimp, shredded carrots, eggs, and cellophane or glass noodles (in Vietnamese, the noodles are called bún tàu or miến). It has origins from spring rolls, called chả giò, because the filling in the rolls are seasoned ground meat. These patties, especially if seasoned with a saltier flavor, go well with steam rice.

INGREDIENTS: 4 servings

1 package of ground beef (about 1 pound)
15 medium to large shrimps, de-shelled and finely chopped
1 dried bundle of cellophane/glass noodles (also called bean threads)
1 medium carrot, finely shredded
1 medium onion, finely diced
4 scallions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons or more of fish sauce
1 teaspoon of sugar
2 eggs
salt
black pepper
garlic powder
vegetable or canola oil



The fish sauce with the "three crabs" label is one of the best brands of fish sauce



The noodles soaking in hot water until they soften


DIRECTIONS:

1) Soak the noodles in hot water until they soften, then drain. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl using a fork. Season the fish sauce and salt according to taste. I like to fry a small patty to make sure the seasoning is just right before I cook the whole batch.

2) In a pan, pour in a generous amount of cooking oil. Using a fork and spoon, scoop a peach size amount of meat into the pan and press into a patty shape. Fry on both sides until golden brown, about 3 minutes or more on each side.



The ingredients in a bowl



Frying the patties