Vietnamese Summer Rolls
List of Ingredients
Unlike spring rolls, this Vietnamese appetizer is served cold.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 dried shiitake mushrooms
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 ounces rice vermicelli
1/2 cup coarsely shredded carrot
8 round rice paper wrappers (6 - 8" in diameter)
1/2 cup shredded romaine lettuce (remove coarse ribs first)
1/2 cup fresh mung bean sprouts
fresh mint leaves
fresh cilantro leaves
Hoisin Dipping Sauce
Recipe
Directions:
Soak shiitake mushrooms in warm water 30 minutes, until reconstituted. Drain, discard hard stems, and slice, reserving 1/2 cup of the soaking liquid.
Cook shiitake in reserved liquid until mushrooms are tender and liquid evaporates. Season with soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Let cool.
Meanwhile, soak the rice vermicelli in warm water to cover 15 - 20 minutes. Drain. Cook in a large pan of boiling water, stirring to separate the strands, until al dente, about 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Cut into 2" - 3" lengths.
Toss carrot with 1 teaspoon sugar and let stand 15 minutes.
Fill a shallow dish with warm water. Working with 1 rice paper wrapper at a time, dip in the warm water for a few seconds to soften, then place the rice paper flat on a work surface.
Place about 2 tablespoons of rice vermicelli; 1 tablespoon each of carrots, lettuce, and bean sprouts; and a few mint leaves and cilantro leaves across the bottom third of the rice paper.
Roll rice paper up halfway to enclose the filling. Fold in both sides. Place a few more cilantro leaves on top of the enclosed part, then arrange some of the shiitake mushrooms over the cilantro. Finish rolling the rice paper, pressing lightly to seal. Place shiitake-side up on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel.
Repeat with remaining rice paper wrappers and filling. If not serving immediately, cover with plastic wrap and keep at room temperature up to 3 hours.
Serve 2 rolls per portion, accompanied by an individual bowl of Hoisin dipping sauce. For a nice presentation, you can slice each roll diagonally in half.
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