Vietnamesemintlemonade Recipes

VIETNAMESE MINT LEMONADE

Steps:

• Place the sugar in the bottom of a large jug.
• Add ice, lemon juice, the slices of lemon, the mint and top up with the mineral water.
• Serve in glasses with straws.

VIETNAMESE RICE NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Mince the garlic with the cilantro and the hot pepper. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, add the lime juice, fish sauce or salt and sugar; stir well. Let the sauce sit for 5 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rice noodles; boil them for 2 minutes. Drain well. Rinse the noodles with cold water until they have cooled. Let them drain again.
• Combine the sauce, noodles, carrots, cucumber, mint and Napa cabbage in a large serving bowl. Toss well and serve the salad garnished with the peanuts and mint sprigs.

VIETNAMESE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven's broiler. Place the pork chops on a broiling pan and set under the broiler. Cook for about 5 minutes, turning once, or until browned on each side.
• Open the French rolls and spread mayonnaise on the insides. Place one of the cooked pork chops into each roll. Spread chile sauce directly on the meat. Sprinkle with a little lime juice and top with slices of onion, cucumber, cilantro, salt and pepper. Finish with another quick drizzle of lime juice.

VIETNAMESE LEMONGRASS BEEF AND NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine sugar, rice vinegar and lime juice and stir to dissolve. Add fish sauce, garlic, ginger, chiles and 1/2 cup water and stir together. Let sit for 15 minutes for flavors to meld. (May be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated.)
• Bring a large pot of water to the boil. Add rice noodles, stir and turn off heat. Let noodles soften (5 to 8 minutes, depending on brand), then drain and rinse with cold water. Leave in colander at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, combine beef, fish sauce, sugar, garlic and lemon grass in a bowl. Massage seasoning into beef and let sit for 15 minutes.
• Line a serving bowl or four individual large wide soup bowls with a few lettuce leaves and top with noodles.
• Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. When wok is nearly smoking, add beef and quickly stir-fry until lightly browned and just cooked, about 2 minutes. Work in batches if necessary so meat browns and doesn't steam. (If you do not have a wok, you may use a cast iron skillet and work in batches.)
• Top noodles with cooked beef, scallions, carrot, cucumber and daikon. Sprinkle with herbs, crushed peanuts and fried shallots (add sprouts if using). Drizzle lightly with dipping sauce and pass remaining sauce at table.

MINT LEMONADE

Steps:

• Slice 7 lemons thinly.
• Seed sliced lemons and place in a large mixing bowl.
• Add 12 mint leaves; sprinkle with sugar.
• Pour in boiling water.
• Let sit for 45 minutes at room temperature, occasionally pressing lemons and mint with a wooden spoon.
• Strain liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass punch bowl or a pitcher with at least a 2 1/2 quart capacity.
• Juice the remaining lemon; add to the strained liquid.
• Add cold water; stir well.
• Add ice cubes; stir rapidly.
• Ladle or pour lemonade and a few ice cubes into each glass; garnish each with a mint leaf.