Goi Cuon Vietnamese Soft Shrimp Rolls Food

VIETNAMESE FRESH SPRING ROLLS (GOI CUON)

Steps:

• Parboil the pork for a minute, discard the liquid. After that, bring water to a boil in a clean pot, add ginger, salt and the pork. Skim off any foam. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer and place the lid slightly askew. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until the pork is just cooked through. Transfer to a bowl with iced water to stop the cooking.
• Bring plenty of water to a boil and add the shrimp. Poach for about 2 minutes until they are just cooked through. Put them in a bowl with iced water immediately.
• Slice the pork as thinly as you can. Peel off the shrimp shells and slice the shrimp in half lengthwise (remove the veins if needed).
• Set up a work station with all ingredients to make the spring rolls and a plate/bowl with clean water. Briefly dip one rice paper wrapper into the plate with water to wet it just enough to make it pliable and then lay flat.
• Add a layer of lettuce, fresh herbs and vermicelli noodles. Fold left and right corners of the rice paper over the filling.
• Place a couple of pork slices right above the veggies and noodles (about the middle of the rice paper) and place two of the shrimp halves above the pork slices (about the top part of the rice paper). Then roll it up away from you. Place on a serving plate with the shrimp side up.
• Repeat with remaining filling and wrappers. Serve immediately with a dipping sauce. Recipes for two types of dipping sauce are in the Notes below.

VIETNAMESE SPRING ROLLS RECIPE (GOI CUON)

Steps:

• Add pork, onion, salt and sugar to a small pot and add enough water to cover about 1 inch above the pork. Bring to a boil on high heat and then lower to medium and cook for about 25-30 minutes or until pork juices run clear when poked at the thickest part, or it registers 145 F with an instant read thermometer at the thickest part.
• Cover the pork in a bowl as it cools so it doesn't darken. Once cool, slice the pork as thinly as you can to make rolling easier later.
• Defrost shrimp in water bowl. Once defrosted, de-vein the shrimp. Hold a shrimp up to a light to locate the vein, pierce the whiter part (joint) of the shrimp just below the vein with a toothpick, and pull the toothpick upwards towards the shrimp back. Do this slowly to remove the vein. Piece again at another joint if the vein breaks to remove all traces of vein. Repeat with all your shrimp.
• Cook the shrimp: add shrimp, salt, and enough water in a small pot to barely cover your shrimp. Boil on medium-high heat for only about 1.5 to 2.5 minutes or until the shrimp is no longer translucent. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Remove the shells and tails from shrimp, and cut the shrimp in half along the body.
• Cook either your rice noodles according to the package instructions. Timing can vary wildly depending on noodle thickness and brand. This can be anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes. Drain and cool the noodles under cold, running water to stop it from cooking further.
• Prepare your vegetables by rinsing and drying them.
• Add warm water to a plate and soak the rice paper sheet for about 5-10 seconds. Soak the rice paper just enough so that it is pliable and easy to handle, but remove the sheet before it gets too soft and sticky. Lay rice paper on a plate and begin to assemble your roll.
• Add lettuce towards the bottom of the rice paper. Leave 1 to 1½ inches of space on either side of the rice paper. Layer with mint and chives. Try to not add too many items because it will be harder to roll and might tear your rice paper.
• Add shrimp in the middle of the rice paper with the orange skin facing down.
• Layer the sliced pork on top of the shrimp.
• Add the noodles across the vegetables, spread evenly across.
• Fold the left and right sides towards the middle so that it's snug. Lay some chives lengthwise with one end poking out. Then fold the bottom up to cover the noodles. You want to keep the roll tight, so lightly squeeze it together as you roll. Continue to roll upwards to complete the spring roll.
• In a pan over medium heat, saute garlic in oil until fragrant.
• Add in hoisin sauce, peanut butter, and water and mix thoroughly.
• Bring to boil, and then immediately turn off the heat and pour into a heat safe dipping bowl. The sauce will slightly thicken as it cools.
• Sprinkle ground peanuts on each sauce dipping bowl, and leave the chile paste on the side so others can add to their own dipping bowl as desired.

GOI CUON (VIETNAMESE COLD SPRING ROLLS)

Steps:

• Have all meats precooked and cold and the rice noodles prepared already (the noodles should be white, long and at room temp).
• Make sure all veggies and herbs are cleaned, dried, and set out before you start.
• Dip a sheet of rice paper wrapper into water very quickly, no longer than a second or two (or they will get too soggy) and lay flat on a work surface.
• On one edge, lay a small handful of noodles, a few strips of meat, some shrimp, some cilantro and mint leaves, a lettuce leaf, some cucumber strips and bean sprouts, all to taste but don't overstuff.
• Carefully start to roll up eggroll style, tucking in the sides, then continue to roll up-but not too tightly or the spring roll will split.
• These rolls will be thicker than the typical Chinese-style fried eggrolls.
• Combine a few spoonfulls of hoisin sauce with some chopped peanuts to use as a dipping sauce (or serve with prepared spicy fish sauce dip called Nuoc Mam, available at Asian markets).
• Serve immediately- these do not keep and will harden up in the fridge, so it is best to make just as many as you plan to serve (store any extra unassembled fillings in fridge and roll later).
• Note: Please be sure to get the correct spring roll rice papers- these are not the same as wonton/eggroll wrappers, which must be cooked.
• Look for edible rice paper wrappers, rice noodle vermicelli, and hoisin sauce in Asian markets.

GOI CUON - VIETNAMESE SOFT SHRIMP ROLLS

Steps:

• Prepare sauce: combine hoisin sauce, coconut milk, rice vinegar, and onion in a blender; puree until smooth.
• Place mixture in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat; reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, adding water to control consistency if necessary.
• Allow to cool.
• Prepare rolls: Julienne pork into thin strips.
• Chop shrimp into 1/2" tidbits.
• Boil vermicelli 2-3 minutes, then rinse in cold water and drain.
• Separate cilantro into sprigs that are of the right size to go onto the rolls.
• Wet rice papers, one at a time, BRIEFLY, and blot on paper toweling.
• Place some noodles, pork, shrimp, lettuce, bean sprouts, basil and cilantro on each roll.
• Fold in the sides, and wrap the top down and roll up, envelope style, keeping tension moderately tight (not too tight or loose).
• Place it on a plate and cover with a very damp paper towel, while you finish the others.
• Place some dipping sauce in small bowls and garnish with roasted peanuts.
• Serve goi cuon with dipping sauce; and hot chili sauce also, if desired.

GOI CON - VIETNAMESE SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Marinate shrimp in a small bowl for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the noodles in boiling water for 4 minutes. Drain immediately and rinse with cold water. Drain thoroughly removing as much water as possible. Set aside.
• Remove shrimp and discard marinade. In a lightly oiled wok or large skillet cook shrimp on high heat about 2 minutes or until done. (They grill well if you prefer that method).
• Allow shrimp to cool enough so that you can handle them. Slice each shrimp in half lengthwise so that you have two identical halves of shrimp. (like two letter C's).
• Fill a dish larger than the rice paper sheets with cool/room temperature water. Quickly dip one sheet in the water. You must be fast so the sheet does not get too wet.
• Allow all water to drip off and place on clean, dry work surface. Blot the top of the rice paper with a paper towel. ONLY work one roll at a time.
• Time to ROLL! The wrapper will still be a little stiff at the beginning but will soften perfectly for rolling by the time you finish piling on the ingredients.
• Lay 4 halves of the shrimp ( 2 shrimp - 4 C's) in a line near the bottom 1/3 of the round. Top with some cabbage or lettuce, then some noodles, carrots, bell pepper and cilantro. Finish by placing two mint leaves on top. Try to keep the ingredients compact and piled on top of the shrimp.
• Starting with the side closest to you, begin to roll up tightly. If you stop halfway and gently pull back on the roll to tighten it will adjust and settle the ingredients and make it easier and tighter to finish rolling. At the end the wrapper will adhere to itself. Just wet by running a damp finger over the top if you feel it is not sealed well.
• You should have paper left over after everything is neatly tucked and rolled. Just simply cut them off using a sharp knife.
• Place the roll on a platter and cover with damp paper towel or plastic wrap, then a kitchen towel to prevent drying.
• Clean work surface to make sure it is dry and free of any leftovers from the previous roll. Repeat with a new rice paper sheet. Work ONE at a time as the sheets are sticky! They will stick to each other instantly so only wet one at a time.
• Note: You will get better with practice. The second will look better than the first and so on. Rice paper varies in thickness so if you find the brand you are using is a little stiff to work with blot more or less water off the next until you find what works for you. You can also let it sit for a few seconds before adding ingredients or use slightly warmer, never hot, water for dipping. Just remember to let the water drip off and wipe your work surface dry each time - a dry surface allows the rice paper to stick and creates a little tension for easier wrapping.