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Cao Lau

Name: Cao Lau
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 12 oz thick chewy cao lau noodles; 1 lb char siu pork, sliced; 8 oz shrimp, cooked; 2 cups lettuce, torn; 2 cups bean sprouts; 1 cup fresh herbs (mint, basil); 1 cup crispy rice crackers; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp five spice; 1/2 cup pork cracklings; 3 scallions, sliced

Cao Lau reads umami 7.4, richness 6.6 and salinity 5.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Vietnamese main, about 50 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

Umami & Savory — 8.5 / 10
Sweet & Fruity — 1.7 / 10
Sour & Bright — 1.1 / 10
Bitter & Earthy — 1.3 / 10
Rich & Fat — 6.8 / 10
Aromatic & Spice — 4.2 / 10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 7.4 · Richness 6.6 · Salinity 5.0 · Herbaceous 3.7 · Marine & Briny 3.3 · Funk & Ferment 2.7 · Warm Spice 2.5 · Allium 1.8 · Sweetness 1.6 · Heat 1.6 · Earthy 1.2 · Sourness 1.0 · Floral 0.8 · Nutty 0.7 · Bitterness 0.7

What's in it (11)

12 oz thick chewy cao lau noodles
1 lb char siu pork, sliced
8 oz shrimp, cooked
2 cups lettuce, torn
2 cups bean sprouts
1 cup fresh herbs (mint, basil)
1 cup crispy rice crackers
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp five spice
1/2 cup pork cracklings
3 scallions, sliced

Time & effort: about 50 min (25 min active) · effort: medium

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 153.8 kcal, 5.1 g protein, 6.8 g fat, 18.3 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains seafood — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (3 steps)

Marinate and roast pork in soy, five spice, and sugar until caramelized.
Cook the thick cao lau noodles and toss with a small amount of seasoned broth.
Serve topped with sliced pork, shrimp, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, crispy rice crackers, and pork cracklings.

Dishes with a similar flavor shape

Baked Stuffed Shells with Spinach and Ricotta — Italian-American
Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells — Italian
Mirliton and Shrimp Casserole — Cajun/Creole
Spinach and Four-Cheese Stuffed Shells — Italian-American
Gulf Coast Cajun Shrimp Fettuccine — Cajun/Creole · Cajun

Keep reading: what umami, richness, salinity mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.