Lemongrass Shrimp Lettuce Cups Recipes

LEMONGRASS SHRIMP LETTUCE CUPS

Steps:

• For the dipping sauce: Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Stir together and set aside.
• For the lettuce cups: Heat the sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the garlic, lemongrass and shallot, stirring, until fragrant, about a minute or so. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring often, until pale pink in color, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the chile paste, soy sauce and chopped cilantro.
• Carefully break off the lettuce leaves from the core and place them on a large platter. Spoon shrimp into each lettuce cup, top with the carrots, bell peppers, cabbage and some cilantro leaves. Serve with the dipping sauce.

LEMONGRASS-SKEWERED SHRIMP IN LETTUCE CUPS

Steps:

• Toss shrimp with 2 tablespoons salt; let stand 5 minutes. Rinse under cold water; pat dry. Pulse shallot and halved garlic in a food processor until minced. Add shrimp, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, egg, cornstarch, 2 teaspoons sugar, oil, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; pulse until a paste forms. Transfer to a bowl; refrigerate 30 minutes.
• With wet hands, spoon a scant 1/4 cup shrimp paste into the palm of one hand and flatten into a 3-inch round. Center a piece of lemongrass over mixture and gently close palm, using your fingers to shape paste into an oval around lemongrass. Transfer to a steamer basket (preferably bamboo) lined with lightly oiled parchment. Repeat with remaining shrimp paste and stalks. Place basket snugly over a pot of simmering water; steam until shrimp paste is opaque and firm, 3 to 4 minutes. Skewers can be steamed up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated (remove 30 minutes before grilling).
• Stir together remaining 3 tablespoons fish sauce and 2 teaspoons sugar, lime juice, minced garlic, and 1/4 cup water until sugar is dissolved. Divide among dipping bowls; top each with some of sliced chiles.
• Preheat grill for direct-heat cooking (medium-high on a gas grill). Lightly brush shrimp skewers with oil and grill, turning a few times, until charred in places and heated through, about 5 minutes. Serve skewers with lettuce, mint, cilantro, peanuts, remaining sliced chiles, dipping sauce, and lime wedges alongside.

LEMONGRASS SHRIMP OVER RICE VERMICELLI AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• To prepare shrimp, combine first 6 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 1 hour, turning occasionally. Remove shrimp from bag; discard marinade.
• To prepare sauce, combine the lime juice and next 5 ingredients (through chiles), stirring with a whisk until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
• To prepare shallot oil, heat 1/4 cup oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots; cook 5 minutes or until golden brown.
• Strain the shallot mixture through a sieve over a bowl. Reserve oil. Set fried shallots aside.
• To prepare remaining ingredients, place rice vermicelli in a large bowl; cover with boiling water. Let stand 20 minutes.
• Drain. Combine the noodles, shallot oil, 1 3/4 cups lettuce, 1 cup sprouts, 1 cup carrot, and 3/4 cup cucumber, tossing well.
• To cook shrimp, prepare the grill to medium-high heat.
• Place shrimp on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 2 1/2 minutes on each side or until done.
• Place 3/4 cup noodle mixture in each of 8 bowls; top each serving with 4 shrimp, about 3 tablespoons of sauce, and about 1 tablespoon fried shallots. Serve with remaining lettuce, bean sprouts, carrot, cucumber, mint, and peanuts.