Vietnamese Shrimp Pops With Peanut Sauce Recipes

VIETNAMESE SUMMER ROLLS WITH SPICY PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak vermicelli in water 15 minutes; drain and squeeze out water. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Place vermicelli in sieve and lower into water; remove after 5 seconds. Cool and divide into 12 portions.
• Soak one rice paper in lukewarm water until pliable, about 5 minutes. Work with only 1 paper at a time and blot dry before assembling.
• To assemble: Place 1 paper on a clean kitchen towel, leaving 1-inch of the rice paper uncovered on the edge closest to you. Place 1 lettuce leaf on the sheet. Cover with 1 portion of vermicelli, and top with a portion of the cucumbers, carrots, chicken, scallions, and mint leaves. Fold the paper once over the filling, starting from the bottom, then fold in the sides and continue rolling tightly to the end. Keep rolls covered with a damp towel. Serve with Spicy Peanut Sauce.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the curry paste and stir-fry until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the shrimp paste and continue to stir until the shrimp paste is broken up and one shade darker, about 1 minute. Add the peanuts and stir, roasting until two shades darker but not burned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the sugar and continue to cook until the sugar is dissolved and starts to caramelize, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the coconut milk, chicken broth, tamarind concentrate, and hoisin sauce. Reduce the heat to low and simmer the sauce until slightly thickened, about 20 to 30 minutes. The natural oils from the peanuts should have surfaced at this point. Once the sauce has reduced by about 1/3, turn off the heat and add the Thai basil and cilantro. Cover and let cool. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

VIETNAMESE SHRIMP POPS WITH PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine all sauce ingredients. Whisk constantly over medium heat until smooth and slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes; do not allow to boil or simmer. Remove from heat.
• Put shrimp pop ingredients in food processor and pulse until a chunky paste is formed. Pour oil onto a sheet pan and spread evenly. Using 2 spoons, form paste into quenelles. Place quenelles on oiled sheet pan, turning to fully coat. Refrigerate 30-60 minutes until firmed up.
• Preheat a grill (or grill pan) to high heat, or preheat broiler. Insert a skewer into each kebab. (If using broiler, do not use wooden skewers!).
• Grill pops over direct heat, or on grill pan, or under broiler, 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve warm with sauce on the side.

PORK & SHRIMP SPRING ROLL WITH PEANUT SAUCE

Steps:

• Place the pork tenderloin in a bowl with the shallot, garlic, fish sauce, sugar, black pepper, and oil, if using, and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate, turning occasionally, at least 1 hour and up to overnight in the refrigerator.
• Preheat a grill to high. Grill the tenderloin, turning occasionally, until just cooked through and an instant-read thermometer registers an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Transfer tenderloin to a plate and set aside to cool to room temperature before proceeding. Once cooled, slice tenderloin into 1/8-inch thick slices and set aside, covered and refrigerated, until you are ready to assemble the spring rolls.
• Prepare the rice vermicelli according to package directions and strain in a colander. Run under cold running water until cool and set aside to drain.
• Assemble the rolls 1 at a time: Dip 1 spring roll wrapper into lukewarm water and quickly transfer to a clean kitchen towel. (Wrapper will soften within seconds.) Lay 4 shrimp halves in a horizontal line across the center of each wrapper and top with a few tablespoons of cooked (well-drained) vermicelli. Top the vermicelli with 1 or 2 slices of cucumber, 2 tablespoons or so of the shredded romaine, 4 mint leaves, 2 sprigs of cilantro, and 4 basil leaves. Place a few sticks of carrot julienne along the top of the filling ingredients and top with 2 slices of pork. Carefully pull the lower edge of the wrapper up and over the filling. Fold the 2 sides inward over the filling and press to seal. Work carefully so as not to tear the wrapper. Once both sides are folded inward over the filling, roll the spring roll upwards so that the filling is tightly contained and roll up to seal. Set the spring roll aside on a plate, covered with a damp paper towel or damp clean kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining wrappers and filling. Once you have assembled all of the spring rolls, serve them immediately - either at room temperature or slightly chilled, with the Peanut Sauce on the side for dipping.
• Directions for Peanut Sauce: Heat the oil in a small saucepan and, when hot, add the garlic, chile paste, and tomato paste, and cook until garlic is golden, about 30 seconds. Add the broth, sugar, peanut butter and hoisin sauce and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool slightly before serving. Serve in small bowls, garnished with the peanuts, sliced chiles and optional hot sauce.
• May be served warm or at room temperature.
• Yield: about 1 1/4 cups.