Spring Rolls

SPRING ROLLS (appetizer) (serves 6)

Ingredients

1 head of red leaf or butter lettuce

1 bunch of fresh cilantro

1 bunch of fresh mint

1⁄2 plastic bag of bean sprouts

1 package of bun vermicelli noodles

9 pcs. boneless, skinless chicken thigh

1 package of rice paper skins (about 20 pcs. in a pack)

1 tsp. salt (optional)

Directions

1. Boil chicken in salted water for about 10 minutes, check to see that chicken is fully cooked in the middle of a test piece. Cook for add'l minutes until fully cooked.
2. Slice cooked chicken into approx. 3⁄4 inch pieces. Lightly salt and mix the chicken (optional).
3. Boil noodles and rinse with cold water; allow to drain fully.
4. Wash and trim the lettuce, cilantro, mint and sprouts.
5. Fill a large bowl of hot faucet water. Dip one piece of rice paper into hot water for about 3 seconds and set on a plate.
6. Once rice paper becomes soft and pliable fill with the above ingredients like a burrito. Fill in this order: noodles, 1⁄2 pc. lettuce, cilantro, mint, chicken.
7. Roll the rice paper like a burrito, folding in the bottom side nearest body, then the sides, then rolling up.
8. Dip in either a peanut sauce or fish sauce (recipes below).

Fish Sauce Ingredients 

2 cups of cold water

3 tbs. + 1 tsp. concentrated fish sauce

1 tsp. fresh minced garlic

1⁄2 tsp. of red chili sauce (optional or add less, esp. if sensitve to spiciness)

2 tbs. rice wine vinegar or 1 fresh squeezed lime

1⁄4 cup sugar (add less if you like things less sweet) finely shredded carrots (optional)

Directions

1. Combine all the ingredients above in a medium bowl until all ingredients dissolve.
2. Taste and adjust to personal taste, adding any of the above ingredients to intensify flavors.

Peanut Sauce Ingredients 

1⁄2 cup hoisin sauce

4 heaping tbs. of peanut butter either crunchy or smooth peanut butter

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp vinegar or 1⁄2 fresh squeezed lime

1⁄2 tsp. garlic

2 tbs. cold water

2 tbs. of the fish sauce recipe above (if you don't have this, then add an add'l: 1 tbs. water & 1⁄2 tsp. concentrated fish sauce)

2 tbs. crushed unsalted peanuts (optional)

Directions

1. Combine all the ingredients above, except crushed peanuts, in a medium bowl until the mixture is smooth. You may add more water is mixture is too thick.
2. Taste and adjust to personal taste, adding any of the above ingredients to intensify flavors.
3. Sprinkle crushed peanuts on top.

Local Vietnamese Market Good Luck Supermarket 259 10th St., Oakland, CA 94607 510-208-1944

Many other stores in Oakland China Town.