Vietnamese Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients

• 2 quarts water
• 1/2 lb thin rice sticks, noodles, softened in hot water to cover and drained
• 1 1/2 lbs medium shrimp
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaf (fresh coriander)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaf
• 1/2 cup finely chopped scallion top
• 1/4 cup chopped mint leaf
• 1/4 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
• 1 head iceberg lettuce, core trimmed, leaves separated, pressed to flatten, rinsed & drained or 2 heads boston lettuce, core trimmed, leaves separated, pressed to flatten, rinsed & drained
• 1 pinch salt & pepper, to taste (for shrimp)
• 2 tablespoons lemongrass paste (for shrimp)

Vietnamese Sweet-n-Sour Dipping Sauce

• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 3 limes, juice of
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons grated carrots

Directions

1. 1

   In a large pot, heat the water until boiling. Add the softened rice stick noodles and swirl in the hot water, then cook until just tender, 10-15 seconds. Drain thoroughly in a colander and rinse under cold water. Clip the noodles into 3 inch lengths and place into a medium serving container.

2. 2

   Chop the fresh herbs and peanuts as above and place each in an individual serving container (small bowl or ramekin).

3. 3

   Peel and de-vein the shrimp, remove the tails. If shrimp are large, cut in to thirds. Season shrimp in a mixing bowl with lemongrass paste (you can use finely chopped fresh lemongrass if available), salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Mix thoroughly and saute in a large pan with peanut oil until shrimp are just cooked. Do not overcook. Remove from heat and place in a serving container.

4. 4

   To make the dipping sauce: In a small mixing bowl, soak the crushed red pepper in lime juice for several minutes Add the garlic, sugar, and fish sauce and stir to dissolve the sugar. Transfer to a serving container and add the grated carrots and serve at room temperature Refrigerated, the sauce will keep in a tightly covered container for up to 5 days.

5. 5

   To Serve: Arrange lettuce on a large platter surrounded by the containers of chopped herbs, etc. and dipping sauce. To make a wrap, take a lettuce leaf in hand, place a small bundle of rice stick noodles on the leaf, scoop a large tablespoon of shrimp on to lettuce leaf, then add any herbs that you like. Add a teaspoon of dipping sauce onto the mixture on the leaf and then roll and eat. Delicious!