I love this recipe and have made it often. I want to make it again for a 4-guest dinner party, so I'd like to serve something else with it. Just f...

...or the family, it's fine by itself, but I feel I want something more as a side dish. Rice would be easy, but can anybody think of something colorful, crunchy, maybe

PaulaE
  • Posted by: PaulaE
  • October 4, 2013
  • 2179 views
  • 8 Comments
Vietnamese Fisherman's Stew
Recipe question for: Vietnamese Fisherman's Stew

8 Comments

Regine
Regine October 4, 2013
I know you may not want to do rice but what about white rice cooked in a mix of water and coconut milk, and then serve with a sprinkle of toasted (and therefore making it "crunchy") unsweetened coconut flakes? To make it more colorful, you could then sprinkle some chopped cilantro and/or scallions and/or red bell pepper.....
 
amysarah
amysarah October 4, 2013
I've never actually made this (yet!) but have eaten it many times in Vietnamese restaurants - Green Papaya Salad: http://passionateeater.blogspot.com/2009/05/vietnamese-green-papaya-salad-goi-du-du.html Colorful, crunchy, light and delicious. I'd think the stew, some jasmine rice and this salad would be a great meal.
 
PaulaE
PaulaE October 4, 2013
I think I can get papaya here, so this could work! Thanks.
 
amysarah
amysarah October 4, 2013
Just one note: you need green papaya for this, not ripe, sweet papaya. Here's some info on it: http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/08/tips-for-buying-and-using-green-papaya.html I see it in Asian markets, but it may be hard to find where you are, if you don't have one. Hope it works out!
 
Regine
Regine October 4, 2013
What about one of my favorite recipes posted in Food52
Called Bloody Sunrise which is grits based?
 
PaulaE
PaulaE October 4, 2013
I'm from NC, living in Yankee-land, so this brings back a lot of memories of home. Maybe not for this meal, but I definitely want to try it. Thanks!
 
hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour October 4, 2013
What about a banana blossom salad? If you have access to a good Asian market odds are you can find the banana blossoms. Most of them call for chicken, but I'd just go leave it out. If you can't find banana blossoms unripe mango works reasonably well.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/inside-dish/banana-blossom-salad-recipe/index.html
http://food52.com/recipes/17311-vietnamese-mango-and-chicken-salad
 
PaulaE
PaulaE October 4, 2013
This could be super if, indeed, I had access to an Asian market. I'm on an island, and while we have wonderful local produce and chicken, lamb, etc., no banana blossoms. But the idea of an Asian-flavored salad is a good one. Maybe even an Asian garlic bean salad, using farmers market green and wax beans would be good.
 
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