Nems Recipes

HEALTHY NEMS

Steps:

• Heat the groundnut oil in a wok over a medium-high heat and stir fry the carrots, bok choi and shrimp for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the rice wine vinegar, fish sauce and sugar and continue to stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Season with the soy sauce and set to one side.
• Have a bowl of hot water ready and place a damp cloth on a flat surface.
• Working quickly, submerge a sheet of rice paper in the hot water for 3 seconds then carefully lay flat on the damp cloth.
• Fill the centre of the rice paper with the shrimp filling and arrange neatly down the middle.
• Roll the rice paper neatly into a rectangle shape, make sure the filling is tightly held within. Fold the sides in and finish rolling. Continue in this fashion until all 12 have been rolled.
• Arrange on serving plates, 3 per portion and garnish with the chillies, sliced chilli and tie the leek julienne into a bundle using a strip of julienned leek.
• Serve with dipping pots of the dark soy sauce on the side.

AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE SPRING ROLLS (NEM RAN HAY CHA GIO)

Steps:

• Soak rice noodles in cold water until soft, about 20 minutes. Drain well; cut into 2-inch long pieces.
• Combine the noodle pieces, chicken, shrimp, eggs, carrot, wood fungus mushrooms, and green onions in a large bowl. Sprinkle in sugar, salt, and black pepper; stir filling mixture well.
• Soak 1 rice paper wrapper in a shallow bowl of warm water to soften, about 15 seconds. Remove from water and place on a damp cloth laid out on a flat surface.
• Place 1 tablespoon of filling mixture into the center of the softened rice paper. Fold the bottom edge into the center, covering the filling. Fold in opposing edges and roll up tightly. Repeat with remaining rice paper wrappers, soaking and filling each one individually.
• Heat oil in a work or large skillet over medium heat.
• Fry the spring rolls in batches of 3 or 4 until crisp and golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

NEM

Steps:

• 1. Mix the meat with green onions, carrots, garlic, coriander, and soy sauce in medium mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly to combine. 2. Add noodles to the stuffing. Mix well. 3. Soak each sheet of rice in warm water for about 15 seconds to soften. This must be done, one at a time. Do not soak all the papers at once. Remove rice paper from water and spread on a damp cloth that you have placed flat on your work surface. (Rice paper should be pliable, not hard.) 4. Put 1-2 tablespoons of filling on each rice paper sheet and roll away from yourself. Once you arrive at the middle, fold each side (right and left) of the nem towards the center (as for a spring roll) and finish the roll. Take care to compress the filling in the nem as you go, so as not to leave trapped air which could explode when cooked. 5. After all nem are rolled, fry in hot oil (200-250 degrees fahrenheit), a first time for 3-5 minutes to fully harden them and make them crisp. Ensure that you leave plenty of space around the nem while they are frying. I can fry about 4-5 at a time in my wok. Your pan may hold more, but ensure they are not crowded. 6. Then, fry the nem a second time until they are golden and cooked through (5-10 minutes). 7. Serve with nuoc cham and/or sweet chili dipping sauce.

NEMS

Steps:

• 1. Whisk together all the ingredients for the dipping sauce in a medium-sized bowl and reserve.
• 2. Place the aziki in a small bowl and cover with 1/4 cup warm water. Let sit for about 10 minutes, then drain, reserving the soaking water.
• 3. Place the shiitake mushrooms in a bowl and completely cover with boiling water. Let sit for 30 minutes then drain and pat dry.
• 4. Place 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, nonstick pan over medium heat and add the onions, garlic, carrots, and turnips and then add the aziki along with the reserved 1/4 cup water. Stir, cover and let cook until the carrots and turnips are beginning to turn tender, 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to be sure the vegetables aren't sticking to the pan and adding additional water if necessary. Be careful to not add too much water, you don't want the vegetables to be soggy. Add the cabbage, stir, cover and cook until the cabbage is tender, an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the fish sauce and taste for seasoning. Transfer the vegetables to a medium-sized bowl.
• 5. Dice the shiitake mushrooms and add them to the vegetables.
• 6. Place one rice wrapper in a pan of very warm water and let it sit until it is pliable, about 2 minutes. Transfer it to a tea towel set on a work surface, pat it dry, and place about 1/4 cup of filling in the bottom third of the wrapper. Lay several cilantro leaves atop the filling. Working quickly and carefully, roll up the bottom edge to enclose the filling, pressing on it gently. Fold the edges of the rice wrapper over the ends of the roll to completely enclose the filling, then continue rolling from the bottom to make a nice, firm rectangular roll. Place the roll, seam side down, in a dish and continue with the remaining rice wrappers and filling.
• 7. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Place as many nems as will fit easily into the pan leaving a bit of room around them and cook until they are golden and crisp on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes total.
• 8. Remove the nems from the heat and set them briefly on paper towels to absorb any excess oil, then transfer to a serving platter. Arrange the fresh mint leaves around the nems and serve, with the sauce on the side.