Author Notes
I like to make these spring rolls with shredded green papaya, but they weren't in season when I made the ones pictured. These can be made with rice noodle or the green papaya. It's lighter and easier to eat than the pan fried Pad Thai we're used to. The mint and cilantro keeps it light. Then there's the flavor combination of umami, sweet, tangy with the crunch of a carrots, cucumber and peanuts. - edamame2003 —edamame2003
Test Kitchen Notes
With crunchy lettuce, sweet rice noodles and creamy shrimp all wrapped up in a translucent wrapper, these spring rolls are really like a handheld bowl of pad thai. Be sure to pickle the cucumbers and carrots -- it only takes a second and is well worth the extra effort. Try these spring rolls with your favorite sweet or spicy Asian dipping sauce. - broccolirose —broccolirose
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Ingredients
- Pad Thai Sauce
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2 tablespoons
tamarind juice
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1 tablespoon
fish sauce
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1 tablespoon
lime juice
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2 tablespoons
palm sugar
- Spring Roll filling
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6 ounces
rice stick noodle (Chantaboon, aka Pho noodles) OR 1/2 pound shredded green papaya
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1 tablespoon
grape seed oil
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1
garlic clove, crushed
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12
medium-large shrimp (shell and tail off; split in half, lengthwise) OR firm tofu
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12
rice spring roll wrappers (8" in diameter)
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6
romaine lettuce leaves (separate from rib to make 12 leaves)
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1/4 cup
cilantro, leaves only
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1/4 cup
mint, leaves only
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1/2 cup
carrots, cut in matchsticks
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1/2 cup
persian or japanese cucumber, cut into matchsticks
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1/4 cup
crushed peanut
Directions
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Make the Pad Thai sauce by stirring the ingredients together. If using noodles, soak the noodles in warm water for 15 minutes and drain. OPTIONAL: quick pickle the carrots and cucumber by dissolving 2 tablespoons of sugar with 3/8 cup rice vinegar. Let the carrots and cucumber soak until ready to use.
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Heat the oil and brown the garlic. Add the sauce and allow to bubble. Lower the hear to medium and add the papaya or noodles. Coat the noodles/papaya and remove from the pan.
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Quickly stir-fry or boil the shrimp until pink.
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Prepare a bowl of warm water to prepare the wrappers. Working with each wrapper individually, soak one until pliable.
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Place the wrapper on a flat surface and place the romaine leaf, noodle or papaya, shrimp (2 halves), cucumber (3 matchsticks), carrots (3 matchsticks), cilantro (4-5 leaves), mint (3-4 leaves) and sprinkle of peanut.
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To keep one end open, place the filling at the edge of the wrapper, a quarter of the way from the bottom.
Fold the bottom over the filling, then fold the right end over and roll tightly to close.
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Serve with a dipping sauce of sweet chili (http://www.food52.com/recipes/6439_thai_sweet_chili_sauce), crushed peanuts and a squeeze of lime.
I work in the entertainment business, and in my free time, I really enjoy growing my own vegetables, trolling my local farmers markets and trying to re-create yummy dishes I eat at my favorite restaurants. My son is a big influence on how and what I cook. He's my guinea pig and promises to try anything I make once. Luckily the recipes on food52 are bountiful and delicious.
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