Nem Chua

Nem chua is one of my most favorite snacks. This sour meat snack is not for everyone, but there are plenty of fans and thus many variations. I've been eating a lot of nem chua recently. Every time I go the Asian market, I grab one. My mom made her own and brought us a ton of it recently. And just this weekend, my mom's friend sent some over from Denver. Perfectly square and garnished with a thin slice of raw garlic, a delicate basil leaf that infused the nem chua with fresh herbal flavor, and dotted with whole peppercorns, this version from Little Saigon in Denver, Colorado was hands down the most beautiful. Photos by Linh Trieu ©Fresh Fish Creative