Shrimp Summer Rolls With Nuoc Cham Recipes

SHRIMP SUMMER ROLLS WITH NUOC CHAM

Steps:

• Prepare the rice vermicelli according to the package directions. Drain well and set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice and cold water. Boil the shrimp until bright pink, opaque and just cooked, about 1 1/2 minutes. Drain and transfer to the ice bath. Once cool, slice each shrimp in half lengthwise, pat dry and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the nuoc cham by whisking together the lime juice, 1/4 cup water, sugar, fish sauce, garlic and chile in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• To assemble the summer rolls, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Fill a large skillet with cold water.
• Working one a time, soak a rice paper wrapper in the skillet until just pliable, 5 to 7 seconds. Transfer the wrapper to a clean cutting board. Line up 3 shrimp halves, pink-side down, in the bottom third of the wrapper. Layer with some scallions, carrots, cucumbers, mint, cilantro and basil. Top with a scant 1/4 cup vermicelli and sprinkle with about 1 teaspoon of the peanuts. Fold in the sides of the wrapper, then roll it up like a burrito. Place it on the prepared baking sheet seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling ingredients, making sure the rolls are not touching on the baking sheet.
• Cover the finished summer rolls with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. Store any remaining vermicelli in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Serve the summer rolls with the nuoc cham on the side for dipping.

SHRIMP SUMMER ROLLS

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Drop the shrimp into the water and cook until they turn pink and opaque, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water until the shrimp are cool. Peel the shrimp, slice them in half lengthwise, and devein if necessary.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Drop in the rice noodles. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand for 8 to 10 minutes, gently lifting and stirring the noodles now and then as they soften, to cook them evenly and to keep them from clumping. Drain the noodles in a colander and rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking. You should have about 4 cups cooked noodles.
• Arrange the noodles, rice paper wrappers, lettuce, herbs, scallions, and cooled filling (shrimp, beef, chicken, or tofu) around a large cutting board or tray set before you. Have a platter nearby for the finished rolls.
• You'll need a skillet of very warm water to soften the rice paper, and a cutting board or tray to lay it on.
• Fill a large skillet halfway with very warm water. Slide a sheet of rice paper into the water and press gently to submerge it until it becomes very pliable, 15 to 30 seconds. Remove the rice paper carefully, shaking gently to help excess water drain off, and lay it before you on a cutting board or tray. (If the water becomes too cool to soften the paper, reheat it briefly on the stove.)
• Starting on the lowest third of the wrapper and working away from you, line up a narrow tangle of noodles (about 1/4 cup), a row of lettuce strips (about 1/4 cup), 5 to 7 good-size mint leaves, a row of cilantro or basil leaves, and a row of scallion strips. Leave about 1 inch of empty space along the wrapper's bottom and side edges.
• Starting from the edge closest to you, roll the wrapper up and over the fillings. Stop after the first turn to tuck and compress everything snugly into the wrapper. Once the first turn is good and tight, fold the right and left sides of the wrapper in onto the roll, closing off the ends, as though making an envelope.
• Just above the cylinder you've already rolled, lay four shrimp halves, pink side down, a few strips of chicken, or one strip of beef or tofu. Roll the wrapper tightly, all the way to the top, and press the seam closed. If the wrapper is too dry to stick, dip your finger in the water and run it along the paper to moisten and then press the seam closed. Set the roll, seam side down, on the platter. Continue to fill and roll up the rice paper sheets until you've made 16 rolls. (Dont let the finished rolls touch one another or they'll stick.) Serve immediately (or drape a damp dishtowel over the rolls, wrap the platter tightly in plastic, and serve within two hours.)

NUOC CHAM SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl combine the garlic, red pepper flakes, sugar, lime juice, fish sauce and water. Mix all together, adjusting to taste.

VIETNAMESE DIPPING SAUCE (NUOC CHAM)

Steps:

• Peel carrot lengthwise with a vegetable peeler. Stack carrot slices and cut into very fine long julienne strips.
• In a bowl, mash the garlic with the sugar. Add remaining ingredients and carrot slices and mix well.

NUOC CHAM (VIETNAMESE DIPPING SAUCE)

Steps:

• Stir the sugar and warm water together in a bowl until the sugar dissolves completely; add the fish sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Thai chile peppers, and green onion to the mixture.

NUOC CHAM (SPRING ROLL SAUCE)

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle, mash garlic and cayenne peppers together with the powdered sugar.
• Add fish sauce, water and lime (or lemon) and mix well.
• This recipe can easily be doubled.
• Add finely shredded carrot and thinly sliced cilantro and green onion for garnish.