Rice paper rolls filled with prawns and Asian herbs
50g bean thread or rice vermicelli
Juice of 1 lemon
20 peeled raw prawns
20 rice paper rounds
1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves
1/2 cup Thai basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (use Vietnamese mint if available)
Sweet chilli sauce, to dip
1. Cook vermicelli in boiling water for 2 minutes, then drain well and set aside to cool. Heat 2cm water and the lemon juice in a saucepan. Add prawns and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to cook, turning once, until they turn bright pink. Remove to cool.
2. Fill a large bowl with lukewarm water. Place one sheet of rice paper into the water at a time and leave for a few minutes until just softened. Carefully transfer rice paper to a board.
3. Place a prawn, a few of each of the herbs and a little mound of vermicelli in the centre of the rice paper round, then roll up to enclose the filling, folding in the sides as you roll.
4. Repeat with remaining rice paper sheets and filling ingredients. Cover finished rolls with damp paper towels to stop rice papers drying out. Serve with sweet chilli sauce for dipping.
Tip: Rice paper sheets are available from supermarkets and Asian food stores. They are made of rice flour paste that is dried until stiff. Before eating, they need to be softened in lukewarm water.
How would you Freestyle this recipe? Tell us your tips and you could win some great prizes.
The young Christchurch promotions model determined to walk again after tragically losing her legs in the February earthquake is still coping with the ongoing complications ... More
You need to know
Sign up for our newsletters and get the latest in gossip, beauty and food sent direct to your inbox... Sign up now
Over the Teacups
My four-year-old grandson was at the supermarket with his mother when he exclaimed, “You’re buying something, Mummy, auntie is buying something – I want to buy something!” Mum replied, “You have to be big, have a wife, have a job, then you can buy things.” He replied, “I have a wife – Maia,” meaning his four-year-old friend. Mum said, “What about a job?” Master Four replied, “My job is having a wife!”
Robyn, Whangarei
Water you want?
I was in the car and asking Master Three what he wanted for Christmas. He said he was going to ask Santa for a water pistol. “And Nanny,” he added, “I’m going to ask for some water for our paddling pool.” Now that could be interesting!
Julie, by email
Bee gone
Master Three had his first bee sting recently. The incident broke his heart, but after many cuddles he came right. Later he said, “I never want to see another bee again. I don’t like bees any more, I only like flies.”
Gaileen, by email
Fraud with worry
My daughter warned me that “old people are being taken for a ride,” and that I shouldn’t engage in conversation with phone sales people. To this, Master Five piped up, “Nana can’t go on that ride, she’s old.”
Joseph’s Nana, Hamilton
... More