Soba And Veggie Summer Rolls With Vegan Nuoc Cham Recipes

VEGETARIAN SUMMER ROLLS WITH 3 DIPPING SAUCES

Steps:

• For each sauce, set aside the garnish and mix together all the ingredients in a medium size bowl. Add the garnish right before serving. Makes 3/4 cup peanut sauce; makes 3/4 cup hoisin sauce; makes 1 cup of Vietnamese dipping sauce (nuoc cham).
• Cut the block of tofu into 1/2 inch strips. Add a teaspoon of oil to a pan over medium high heat and fry the tofu strips until they are golden brown on both sides. About 4 - 5 minutes. Set this aside.
• Add about a third inch of water to a large shallow dish to dip the rice paper wrappers in. Dip one sheet of rice paper wrapper in the water for two seconds and place it on a flat surface. (see Note 2)
• Starting with the side closest to you, add the mix greens/lettuce and shredded red cabbage on top of the rice paper wrapper, leaving an inch of wrapper on the edge to grab ahold of later. This will provide a barrier between the vegetable filling and the delicate rice paper wrappers.
• Next place the peppers, carrots, tofu, and avocado on top of the mixed greens. Finally add the vermicelli rice noodles and fresh herbs on top of everything. You should have a stack of the filling piled on top of each other.
• (Optional) For presentation: if you prefer to see the colorful vegetables through the wrapper, lay them flat on the rice paper wrapper in the center. As you're rolling it up, you should be able see the vegetables through the rice paper.
• Starting from the end closest to you, pick up the inch of wrapper left uncovered and roll it up a quarter of the way.
• Continue rolling until all the filling is rolled into the rice paper wrapper.
• Fold the left and right side of the wrapper towards the center and continue to roll it all the way up.
• Place the summer roll on a plate and let it sit for 1 minute or until the wrapper is no longer tacky. The surface should still feel soft and pliable but it should not feel sticky since the excess water should be absorbed by now.
• Cut each summer roll crosswise into about 2 inch pieces and arrange them on a plate. Serve with the peanut, hoisin, and Vietnamese dipping sauces.

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.