Vietnamese Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Food

VIETNAMESE FRESH SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Boil rice vermicelli 3 to 5 minutes, or until al dente, and drain.
• Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip one wrapper into the hot water for 1 second to soften. Lay wrapper flat. In a row across the center, place 2 shrimp halves, a handful of vermicelli, basil, mint, cilantro and lettuce, leaving about 2 inches uncovered on each side. Fold uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper, beginning at the end with the lettuce. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• In a small bowl, mix the fish sauce, water, lime juice, garlic, sugar and chili sauce.
• In another small bowl, mix the hoisin sauce and peanuts.
• Serve rolled spring rolls with the fish sauce and hoisin sauce mixtures.

VIETNAMESE PORK LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix vinegar, sugar and salt until blended. Stir in carrots and onion; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., In a large skillet, cook pork, ginger and garlic over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until pork is no longer pink, breaking up pork into crumbles; drain. Stir in soy sauce, mirin, salt, pepper and, if desired, fish sauce., To serve, drain carrot mixture. Place pork mixture in lettuce leaves; top with cucumber, red pepper, green onions, carrot mixture and herbs. Sprinkle with jalapeno and peanuts; drizzle with hoisin sauce. Squeeze lime juice over tops. Fold lettuce over filling.

VIETNAMESE SHRIMP LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• In a large pot, heat the water until boiling. Add the softened rice stick noodles and swirl in the hot water, then cook until just tender, 10-15 seconds. Drain thoroughly in a colander and rinse under cold water. Clip the noodles into 3 inch lengths and place into a medium serving container.
• Chop the fresh herbs and peanuts as above and place each in an individual serving container (small bowl or ramekin).
• Peel and de-vein the shrimp, remove the tails. If shrimp are large, cut in to thirds. Season shrimp in a mixing bowl with lemongrass paste (you can use finely chopped fresh lemongrass if available), salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Mix thoroughly and saute in a large pan with peanut oil until shrimp are just cooked. Do not overcook. Remove from heat and place in a serving container.
• To make the dipping sauce: In a small mixing bowl, soak the crushed red pepper in lime juice for several minutes Add the garlic, sugar, and fish sauce and stir to dissolve the sugar. Transfer to a serving container and add the grated carrots and serve at room temperature Refrigerated, the sauce will keep in a tightly covered container for up to 5 days.
• To Serve: Arrange lettuce on a large platter surrounded by the containers of chopped herbs, etc. and dipping sauce. To make a wrap, take a lettuce leaf in hand, place a small bundle of rice stick noodles on the leaf, scoop a large tablespoon of shrimp on to lettuce leaf, then add any herbs that you like. Add a teaspoon of dipping sauce onto the mixture on the leaf and then roll and eat. Delicious!

PAPAYA SHRIMP LETTUCE WRAPS

Steps:

• In a non-reactive bowl, mix together the lime juice, balsamic vinegar, basil or cilantro, green onion, garlic, jalapeno, and brown sugar.
• Stir in the cubed papaya and shrimp, then the fish sauce to taste.
• Pour into shallow dish and surround with the butter lettuce leaves.
• Use the lettuce leaves to scoop up the papaya mixture and hold to eat.
• Good additions are cooked bean threads, thinly sliced cucumber, julienned carrot, or perhaps bean sprouts.