Ingredients
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3 ounces dried rice vermicelli
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2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
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1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
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1 teaspoon sugar
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1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and sliced into 2-inch-long matchsticks
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1/2 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, large leaves torn into pieces
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1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, stems removed
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4 large leaves red leaf lettuce or 4 large boston lettuce, halved lengthwise and sliced thin
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1/2 lb cooked extra-large shrimp, chilled and sliced in half lengthwise (21 to 25 per pound)
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1 large carrot, peeled and grated on the large holes of a box grater
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2 fresh chili peppers, minced (Thai, serrano, or jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed )
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1/3 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped
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8 round rice paper sheets (8 inches in diameter)
Instructions
- Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot.
- Remove the boiling water from the heat, add the rice noodles, and let stand, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Drain and transfer noodles to a medium bowl.
- Whisk the lime juice, fish sauce, and sugar together in small bowl until the sugar dissolves.
- Toss 2 tablespoons of the lime juice mixture with the noodles.
- In a medium bowl, toss 1 more tablespoon of the lime juice mixture with the carrot, peanuts, and chiles.
- In small bowl, toss the remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice mixture with the cucumber.
- Spread a clean, damp kitchen towel on a work surface.
- Fill a 9-inch pie plate with 1 inch of room temperature water.
- Working with one rice paper wrapper at a time, immerse each wrapper in water until just pliable, about 2 minutes, then lay the softened wrapper on the towel.
- Scatter about 6 mint leaves and 6 cilantro leaves over the wrapper.
- Arrange 5 cucumber sticks horizontally on wrapper and top with 1 tablespoon of the carrot mixture, 2 tablespoons of the lettuce, 2 1/2 tablespoons of the noodles, and 2 shrimp halves.
- To wrap the spring rolls, fold up bottom 2-inch border of wrapper over filling.
- Fold left, then right edge of wrapper over filling. Roll filling to top edge of wrapper to form tight cylinder.
- Then transfer to a serving platter and cover with a second damp kitchen towel.
- Repeat with the remaining rice paper wrappers and filling ingredients. (The covered spring rolls can be refrigerated for up to 4 hours.).
- Serve with the peanut dipping sauce.