Thai Vietnamese Salad Bar Supreme Recipes

Steps:

• Assemble all ingredients and let stand in a bowl that it may be presented in later.
• To Assemble and Serve:
• Soak the rice papers a few at a time in hot water. Have a towel ready to work on and to take up some of the extra moisture.
• Have your fillings ready and seasoned.
• Roll a variety of salad rolls (some just chicken, just vegetable, some combos, etc.) until all filling and wrappers are used.
• Arrange the garnishes on a platter along with the fresh salad rolls and the nuoc cham dipping sauce.
• Tradition has it that the guests using a lettuce leaf as a cup will garnish his or her own salad roll as they choose and dip into nuoc cham.
• Cut all vegetables carefully and mix with herbs. Wait to season with nuoc cham until you are ready to roll.
• Brush chicken, beef and shrimp with marinade and cook, preferably on grill. Cool after grilling.
• Cut chicken, beef and shrimp into desired size and toss with any leftover marinade to season.

Steps:

• Prepare the shrimp:.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the fish sauce, lime or lemon juice, and sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the oil, garlic, basil and chili. If you wish, pour the marinade into a blender and pulse until smooth.
• Place the shrimp and marinade into a resealable gallon plastic bag. Squeeze out the air; and seal the bag. Hold onto the two ends, shake the bag to coat the pieces evenly. Refrigerate for 4 hours, turning the bag every 30 minutes or so to redistribute the marinade.
• Put the rice vermicelli into a large bowl with water to cover. Let soak until pliable, about 30 minutes. In a large pot of boinling water, cook the vermicelli for no more than 5 seconds. Drain and rinse under cold running water. Transfer to a dish, cover with plastic wrap and wet aside.
• In a small sauce pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Fry the scallions until fragrant and lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Toss the rice vermicelli with the scallion oil ( including the scallions) and transfer to a serving platter.
• On a serving platter, arrange, in individual piles the carrots, lettuce leaves, carambolas ( if using), cucmber and mint sprigs. Put the peanuts in a separte bowl.
• Cook the shrimp:.
• Just before you are ready to serve, prepare a hot fire in a charcoal grill or preheat a gas grill to high (500F). Remove the shrimp from the marinade and discard the marinade. Grill the shrimp, turning them frequently to prevent burning, for 2 to 3 minutes, until evenly pink and golden on both sides.
• To Serve:.
• Instruct your guests to take some vericelli, carrots, cucumbers, carambolas, lettus leaves (freshly torn), mint leaves (pinching off the sems and freshly torn), and toss in their individual dishes ( a large soup bowl or deep plate is best) until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Place the grilled shrimp on top, sprinkle with peanuts and drizzle with the nauc cham. Serves 6 to 8.
• Wine Recommendations: Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, or chilled Morgon from Beaujoliais.

Steps:

• Arrange salad bar ingredients in attractive dishes and bowls as you prepare them: romaine, baby mixed greens, bean sprouts, daikon or red radishes, carrots, scallions, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, mint leaves, basil leaves, nuts and sweet almond or anise"croutons".
• Heat a grill pan over medium high heat.
• Combine soy and oil in a shallow dish.
• Add chicken and turn to coat.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle fish with oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill chicken 3 minutes on each side.
• Cut chicken into strips on an angle and place onto a serving plate.
• Grill fish 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until opaque.
• Squeeze lime over the fish and break up into chunks as you transfer it to a serving plate.
• Combine all ingredients, except oil, for peanut dressing in a blender.
• Blend for 30 seconds, then open lid and continue dressing by pouring slowly in oil.
• Transfer dressing to a serving dish and sprinkle the dressing with a spoonful of nuts from your salad bar to garnish the dish.
• For garlic dressing, whisk vinegar, jelly, garlic, black pepper and chili oil together.
• Slowly pour in vegetable oil while continuing to whisk.
• When the oil is thoroughly mixed, transfer dressing to a small dish to serve.