Spring roll

Recipe description

This is a Vietnamese speciality, which is popularized worldwide by overseas. In the Northern, people call the dish Nem or Fried Nem; the Central call this Cha ram, Rolled Cha while it is called Cha gio in the Southern.  The variations of the dish are distinguished between regions, the materials and iingredients are varied but the ways of processing are almost the same.

The dish is called Spring roll all over the world as it wraps a whole spring inside. Blended kinds of meat, vegetables, joined with leafy vegetables and dipping sauces create an unforgettable savour.

Seafood spring roll is a quite unique form as it is served with ketchup and mayonnaise, which originally comes from Western cuisine and is one of most favourite dipping sauces.

Ingredients

Serving size: 4

-       Filling

8 oz carrot

8 oz jicama

4 oz jelly ears mushroom

6 lb shrimp

6 lb squid

30 rice paper to wrap rolls

1 onion

handful of scallion

1 egg

4 oz fried dough

1 teaspoon ground pepper, finely grind

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of Sugar

1 teaspoon of Knorr seasoning powder

1cup of Cooking Oil

-       Dipping sauce

Ketchup / Sweet and sour sauce

Mayonnaise

Directions

Carrot, jicama: finely shredded

Jelly ears mushroom: finely chopped

Shrimp: peeled, finely chopped

Squid: peeled, finely chopped

Onion: peeled, finely chopped

Scallion: finely chopped

Mix up all those things in a large pot, season the mixture with salt, sugar, seasoning powder, and pepper to taste.

Put every dollop of filling mixture on to a rice paper, wrap them  to finger-length rolls   

Whisk an egg in a bowl. Dip the rolls in the egg, then in the fried dough.

Heat cooking oil in a saucepan, then fry the rolls to be golden brown.

Serve

Dipping sauce

-       Use mayonnaise and ketchup separately

-       Or blend them to get an orangy mixture

-       Or top some ketchup in the middle of mayonnaise to get a nice dressing.   

Put the spring rolls in a large white plate, garnished by slides of cucumber and tomato.

This can be served with lettuce, cress leaves, or sprouts.

The dish is a good appetizer.

Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

If egg and fried dough are not available, you may paste vinegar and beer onto the rice paper before wrapping, this helps the rolls more golden and crispy.

The whisked egg can be used to glue the edge of rolls. Put the edge of rolls into oil first when frying to prevent them from peeling.