Vietnamese Seafood Salad

VIETNAMESE SHRIMP AND GLASS NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• To make the Vietnamese Dressing, simply mix all the ingredients together. This will keep very well in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator for at least a week.
• To make the salad, marinate the shrimp in 1/2 cup of the Vietnamese Dressing. While this is going on, soak the noodles in freshly boiled water according to packet instructions. Once re-hydrated, refresh the noodles in cold water, then drain. Put the sugar snaps and bean sprouts into a colander and pour over freshly boiled water from a kettle. Rinse them with cold water and drain well, just shaking the colander, so they're not actually wet.
• In a large bowl, mix the marinated shrimp with the drained noodles, scallions, sugar snaps, and bean sprouts. Dress with 2 tablespoons more of the Vietnamese Dressing; add more dressing, to taste, if desired.
• Sprinkle over the chopped cilantro and toss everything together well before arranging onto a large plate.

VIETNAMESE SHRIMP SALAD

Steps:

• Bring all of the ingredients in the dressing to a boil.
• Stir occasionally until the sauce has thickened.
• Taste the sauce and add salt/sugar as necessary: the sauce should be sweet/sour.
• Place the shrimp in the sauce and allow to simmer.
• Cook the asparagus.
• The time for this will vary depending on how thick the asparagus is.
• For tiny asparagus, 2-3 minutes.
• Add the asparagus to the shrimp.
• Take this mixture off of the heat and allow to cool.
• Mix together the shrimp/asparagus/dressing, lettuce, peaches, pineapple, and cucumber together, and serve in the hollowed out pineapple halves.

VIETNAMESE SEAFOOD SALAD

Steps:

• Stir fry shallots in oil until lightly brown, add prawns and cook for 1 minute. Add squid and ginger and continue to cook 3-4 minutes, add black pepper at the end and remove from heat into a large bowl.
• Add the papaya and chilli together, add to the seafood mixture. Combine the sugar, salt and juice together until dissolved. Pour over the salad and mix well.
• Just before serving, add the toasted sesame seeds and mint, toss lightly, serve with crispy rice paper or prawn crackers. (Don't add too early or else the seeds will go soft and the mint will turn black).