Ingredients

• Marinade
• 1 lemongrass stalk, finely sliced (fresh if you can, but 1/3 cup frozen chopped lemongrass works as well)
  
• 4 garlic cloves
  
• 2 to 3 Thai chiles
  
• ¹/₂ cup oyster sauce (if you can’t find this, substitute 2 tablespoons granulated sugar plus 1/3 cup fish sauce)
  
• 1 ¹/₂ pounds boneless chicken thighs or thinly sliced pork
  

• Sauce
• 4 garlic cloves
  
• 1 Thai chile (or any spicy pepper, like serrano or jalapeño)
  
• ¹/₄ cup granulated sugar
  
• ¹/₄ cup fish sauce*
  
• ¹/₄ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  
• Noodle bowl
  
• 1 (16-ounce) pack vermicelli rice noodles
  
• 1 head lettuce
  
• 1 English cucumber
  
• 1 carrot
  
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
  
• 1 bunch fresh mint
  
• 1 pound bean sprouts
  
• ¹/₄ cup crushed peanuts