Vietnamese Spring Rolls Recipe (Goi Cuon)

Step 1

Defrost shrimp in water bowl. Once defrosted, split and de-vein the shrimp.

Step 2

Cooking pork: add pork to a small pot and add enough water to cover about 1 ½ inches above the pork. Add 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of sugar. Bring to a boil on high heat and then lower to medium for 30 minutes. Remove the pork when it turns light brown and floats to the top.

Step 3

Cooking shrimp: add 2 inches of water (enough to cover the shrimp). Add ½ tsp of salt and bring to a boil. Add the shrimp and boil for 1 ½-2 ½ minutes on medium-high heat until the shrimp is no longer translucent.

Step 4

Remove the shells and tails from shrimp, and cut the shrimp in half along the body.

Step 5

Slice the pork as thinly as possible so that it will be easier to roll.

Step 6

In another pot, boil 1/2 gallon of water and add ⅓ of the rice vermicelli package. Boil for 8 minutes (following the instructions on the packet). Drain and cool the noodles under cold, running water to stop the cooking.

Step 7

Prepare your vegetables by rinsing and drying them.

Step 8

Add warm water to a plate and soak the rice paper sheet for about 5-10 seconds. Soak the rice paper just enough so that it is pliable and easy to handle, but remove the sheet before it gets too soft and sticky. Lay rice paper on a plate and begin to assemble your roll.

Step 9

Add lettuce towards the bottom of the rice paper. Leave 1 to 1½ inches of space on either side of the rice paper. Layer with mint and chives. Try to not add too many items because it will be harder to roll and might tear your rice paper.

Step 10

Add shrimp in the middle of the rice paper with the orange skin facing down.

Step 11

Layer the sliced pork on top of the shrimp.

Step 12

Add the noodles across the vegetables, spread evenly across.

Step 13

Fold the left and right sides towards the middle so that it's snug. Lay some chives lengthwise with one end poking out. Then fold the bottom up to cover the noodles. You want to keep the roll tight, so lightly squeeze it together as you roll. Continue to roll upwards to complete the spring roll.

Step 14

In a pan over medium heat, saute garlic in oil until fragrant.

Step 15

Add in hoisin sauce, peanut butter, and water and stir thoroughly.

Step 16

Bring to boil, and then immediately turn off the heat and place into a heat safe dipping bowl.

Step 17

Leave the Sambal chile paste on the side so others can add to their own dipping bowl as needed.