Recipe of the Month - Shrimp & Vegetable Summer Rolls
Vietnamese rolls stuffed with shrimp get crunch and color from yellow peppers, lettuce and carrots—which, like most orange fruits and vegetables, are high in cancer-fighting alpha carotene.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups shredded carrots
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tablesppon agave
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
Sixteen 8-inch round rice papers
16 cilantro sprigs
1 head Boston lettuce, separated
1 pound cooked large shrimp, halved lengthwise *
2 yellow bell peppers, cut into 1/4-inch strips
3 1/2 ounces bean thread vermicelli, soaked in hot water until pliable and drained well
DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, toss the carrots, onion, 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of the vinegar and 1 tablesppon agave. Let stand until the vegetables soften, 30 minutes. Drain.
In a glass bowl, mix the remaining vinegar, agave and garlic. Microwave at high power for about 10 seconds, until the agave is dissolved. Add the fish sauce and set aside for 30 minutes; discard the garlic.
Meanwhile, soak 1 rice paper at a time in hot water until pliable, about 10 seconds; transfer to a work surface. Set a cilantro sprig and lettuce leaf on the lower third of the rice paper and top with 3 shrimp halves. Top with some of the yellow pepper, vermicelli and the pickled vegetables; roll up tightly, folding in the sides. Place the roll on a platter and repeat with the remaining ingredients. Halve the rolls and serve with the sauce for dipping.
* Be sure to always use shrimp from a reputable source. "Ocean Boy," which is available from Costco is a good option. Local folks can purchase healthy shrimp at The Heritage.
