Fresh Vietnamese Rice Paper Bundles Recipe - Cooking Index
If Vietnam had a national dish, it would be this popular variation of the spring roll. The delicious cha gio are wrapped in phyllo-thin rice paper wrappers that have been carefully softened with water or other liquid before rolling.
Courses: Starters and appetizers| Dipping Sauce | ||
| 1 teaspoon | Minced garlic | |
| 3 tablespoons | Rice vinegar | |
| 2 tablespoons | Lime juice | |
| 2 tablespoons | Fish sauce | |
| 2 teaspoons | Chili paste | |
| 4 teaspoons | Sugar | |
| Bundles | ||
| 3 cups | Shredded cooked chicken | |
| 1 tablespoon | Fish sauce | |
| 1 teaspoon | Sesame oil | |
| 1 teaspoon | Chopped cilantro (Chinese parsley) - plus | |
| 12 | Cilantro sprigs | |
| 1 | Freshly-ground black pepper | |
| 12 | Dried 7" rice paper rounds | |
| 2 oz | Bean threads - soaked, drained | |
| And cut into 3" lengths | ||
| 1 x | Watercress - tough stems removed | |
| 1/2 | Red bell pepper - seeded, and | |
| Cut into matchstick pieces | ||
| 3 | Green onions, including tops - slivered | |
| Mint leaves - for garnish |
Combine the dipping sauce ingredients in a small serving bowl and stir until the sugar dissolves. Set aside. Combine the chicken, fish sauce, sesame oil, chopped cilantro, and black pepper in a medium bowl.
To assemble each bundle, immerse a rice paper round in cool water for about 10 seconds then transfer it to a flat working surface. Let it stand for 1 minute or until it becomes soft and pliable. Place about 1/4 cup of the chicken mixture in the center and top with a small mound of the bean threads, 2 or 3 pieces each of watercress, bell pepper, and green onion, and a cilantro sprig. Roll the wrapper around the filling, tucking in one end. Serve the bundles on a platter, garnished with mint leaves. Offer dipping sauce at the table.
This recipe yields 12 bundles.
Tip: If all you can find are 9- or 12-inch rice paper rounds, make larger bundles and cut them into thirds before serving.
Source:
Everybody's Wokking by Martin Yan, (Harlow & Ratner, 1991)
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