Bun Bo Hue

Name: Bun Bo Hue
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 2 h
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 1 lb brisket; 1 lb oxtail; 3 stalks lemongrass (bruised); 2 shallots (halved); 3 stalks lemongrass (minced); 1 shallot (roughly chopped); 4 cloves garlic; 4 Thai chilies; 1/2 cup neutral oil (such as grapeseed or canola); 1/4 cup Chinese chili flakes (or sub 2-4 Thai chilies); 1/4 cup sugar; 1/4 cup fish sauce; 1 tbsp shrimp paste (mắm ruốc, optional); 8 beef meatballs (halved, bò viên); 8 slices Vietnamese ham (sliced, chả chiên); 14 oz thick vermicelli (look for the words Bun Bo Hue); 1/4 red onion (thinly sliced); 1 cup banana blossoms (cleaned, trimmed, and sliced); 4 stems sawtooth coriander (ngò gai); 4 sprigs cilantro; 4 sprigs Thai basil; 4 wedges lime