FRESH VIETNAMESE SUMMER ROLLS

Makes about 30.

I like to make two versions of these delicious healthy rolls, both are equally popular: the Traditional Pork and Shrimp and the sweet and tangy Mango Jicama. Make sure you give yourself lots of time for rolling, or invite your friends to help.

Prep:

Boil, strain and let cool 1 package of Asian vermicelli.

1/4 pound pork tenderloin

rub with 1 t each kosher salt and sugar, let stand 20 minutes or more and grill on low.

Alternatively, buy some Chinese BBQ pork if you can find it.

1/4 pound of shrimp – quickly boil till pink, peel and cut in half lengthwise.

Wash 1 bunch of spearmint, pat dry with dish cloth.

2 mangoes and 1 jicama – peel and either julienne or use a mandolin to slice into long thin slices.

Roll:

Pour some hot water in a pie plate and soak one rice paper at a time until it softens (about 30 seconds). You can leave rice paper in to soak while you are rolling another one. Take it out and allow excess water to drip back into the pie plate. Lay the wet rice paper out on a plate and neatly layer 3 or so mint leaves, some noodles and either mango and jicama or shrimp and pork in the lower third of the rice paper. Make the pile of fillings approximately 1 x 3 inches. Fold the bottom of the paper over the veggies and make the little package snug. Fold the two sides in (making 90-degree corners) and roll it up. Add hot water to the pie plate when the water gets cold and keep rolling. Put wax paper between layers so they don’t stick together.

Eat as you go or store covered with damp dish cloth until ready to eat.

Serve at room temperature with Hoisin Dipping Sauce.

Shopping list

1 or 2 packages rice paper

1 package vermicelli

1/4 lb shrimp

1/4 lb pork tenderloin or Chinese BBQ pork

2 bunches spearmint

2 big or 2 sm mangoes

1 med jicama

wax paper

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HOISIN SESAME DIPPING SAUCE

Mix in a bowl and set aside:

2 T hoisin sauce

1 T rice vinegar

1 t sesame oil

1 T soy sauce

2 T water

Heat:

1 T vegetable oil in small saucepan over medium heat.

Sauté until fragrant but not browned, about 30 seconds:

2 T fresh ginger, minced (about a 2 inch piece)

2 cloves garlic, minced

Stir in hoisin mixture and cook until flavors meld, about 2-3 minutes.

Off heat and stir in 2 T chopped fresh cilantro

Serve warm or room temperature with Fresh Vietnamese Summer Rolls.

Shopping list

hoisin sauce

rice vinegar

sesame oil

soy sauce

vegetable oil

fresh ginger

garlic

fresh cilantro

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SPRING ROLLS

Makes 50.

This is a Thailand meets Vietnam recipe.

Soak:

2 ounces dried wood ear fungus in hot water for 20 minutes

2 ounces glass noodles

Sauté:

1 small onion until translucent.

Add one at a time:

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 ounces ground pork

1 cup julienne carrots

1 cup very finely chopped cabbage (napa or green)

Drained glass noodles

Drained wood ear fungus*

1 t salt

1 t sugar

The spring roll filling can be made 1-2 days in advance. Roll the spring rolls the same day that you are frying and eating them.

Take the spring roll wrappers out of the freezer at least an hour before you are ready to start rolling.

Roll:

Lay several small spring roll wrappers out on a table with a corner pointing towards you so it looks like a diamond. Spoon 1-2 T of the filling one inch above the lower corner of the wrappers. Brush egg white across the top corner of the wrapper. Fold the lower corner over the filling and shape into a cylinder approximately 1/2 inch by 2 inches and start rolling. Fold sides in, making sure you have a 90 degree angle at the bottom corners and finish rolling. See photos.

Stack with wax paper between layers.

Pour an inch of vegetable oil into a frying pan. Heat oil on medium-high. Fry 10 or so spring rolls at a time. When the bottom gets golden brown, turn over using chopsticks. Repeat on second side. Remove from pan and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Serve with Mae Ploy Sweet Chili Sauce, available at Asian markets.

* I buy the dried wood ear fungus at my local Asian market already thinly chopped. If you get the whole ear, you will need to chop it into very thin slices after you soak it.

Shopping list

1 package small spring roll wrappers

dried wood ear fungus

glass noodles

onion

garlic

ground pork

carrots

cabbage (napa or green)

salt

sugar

1 egg white

vegetable oil for frying

Sweet Chili Sauce (Mae Ploy)

paper towels

wax paper

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INDONESIAN CHICKEN SATAY with PEANUT SAUCE

To make the marinate,

mix in a medium bowl:

3 T soy sauce

3 T tomato paste or sauce

1 T peanut oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 pinch ground black pepper

1 t ground cumin

½ t ground coriander seed

Cut 6 chicken breasts into long and skinny ½ inch thick slices (about 1 x 3 inches). Place chicken into the mixture, and stir to coat. Cover, and marinate for at least 15 minutes, but not overnight. This will make the meat too dark.

To make the sauce,

heat 1 T peanut oil in a saucepan over medium heat and sauté:

¼ cup minced onion and

1 clove minced garlic until lightly browned.

Mix in:

1 cup water

½ cup chunky peanut butter

2 T soy sauce

2 T sugar.

Cook and stir until well blended. Remove from heat, mix in:

1 T lemon juice and set aside.

To grill the chicken:

preheat the grill for high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill skewers about 5 minutes per side, until chicken juices run clear.

Serve with the Peanut Sauce.


Shopping list

6 chicken breasts

soy sauce

tomato paste or sauce

veg oil

garlic

black pepper

cumin

onion

garlic

chunky peanut butter

soy sauce

sugar

lemon

skewers

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