Goi Cuon Recipes

Steps:

• Have all meats precooked and cold and the rice noodles prepared already (the noodles should be white, long and at room temp).
• Make sure all veggies and herbs are cleaned, dried, and set out before you start.
• Dip a sheet of rice paper wrapper into water very quickly, no longer than a second or two (or they will get too soggy) and lay flat on a work surface.
• On one edge, lay a small handful of noodles, a few strips of meat, some shrimp, some cilantro and mint leaves, a lettuce leaf, some cucumber strips and bean sprouts, all to taste but don't overstuff.
• Carefully start to roll up eggroll style, tucking in the sides, then continue to roll up-but not too tightly or the spring roll will split.
• These rolls will be thicker than the typical Chinese-style fried eggrolls.
• Combine a few spoonfulls of hoisin sauce with some chopped peanuts to use as a dipping sauce (or serve with prepared spicy fish sauce dip called Nuoc Mam, available at Asian markets).
• Serve immediately- these do not keep and will harden up in the fridge, so it is best to make just as many as you plan to serve (store any extra unassembled fillings in fridge and roll later).
• Note: Please be sure to get the correct spring roll rice papers- these are not the same as wonton/eggroll wrappers, which must be cooked.
• Look for edible rice paper wrappers, rice noodle vermicelli, and hoisin sauce in Asian markets.

Steps:

• 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.