Vietnamese Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

THE LETTUCE CUPS:

▢300g / 10 oz peeled whole cooked prawns/shrimp , medium (600g/1.2lb unpeeled whole prawns – this is what I use) – Note 1

▢75g / 2.5 oz dried vermicelli noodles (or glass noodles or rice)

▢12 large or 16 -20 small lettuce leaves (I used baby cos/romaine), eg iceberg, butter lettuce

VEG AND HERBS:

▢1 batch quick pickled carrots and daikon , below *recommended* OR 2 carrots finely julienned (use plain)

▢2 cups beansprouts

▢2 cucumbers , julienned

▢2 cups mint leaves

▢2 cups coriander/cilantro sprigs (sub with chives + extra mint)

▢3 birds eye red chilli , finely sliced (optional)

▢1/4 cup roasted peanuts , finely chopped (recommended)

VIETNAMESE PEANUT SAUCE:

▢2 tbsp natural peanut butter , smooth (ie not sweetened) – Note 2

▢2 tbsp hoisin

▢1 – 2 tbsp lime juice , sub rice vinegar

▢1/3 cup LOW FAT coconut milk (Note 3)

▢1 large garlic clove , finely grated

▢1 tsp+ sambal oelak (or other chilli sauce/paste of choice), can omit (adj to taste)

▢1 tsp dark soy (Note 4)

▢1 tsp white sugar

▢1/2 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt

QUICK PICKLED VEGETABLES

▢2 medium carrots , peeled cut into 2 mm / 1/10″ batons

▢1/2 large white radish (daikon) , peeled, cut the same as carrots

▢1 1/2 cups boiling water

▢1/2 cup white sugar

▢4 tsp cooking salt / kosher salt

▢3/4 cup rice wine vinegar (sub apple cider vinegar)

Instructions

Pickle first – Put the boiling water, salt and sugar in a bowl. Mix to to dissolve, then add vinegar. Submerge vegetables and leave for 2 hours. Drain then use per recipe (or store in fridge submerged in liquid).

Peanut sauce – Mix the peanut sauce ingredients and set aside for the flavours to meld while you prepare the platter. Start with 1 tbsp lime juice and add more if you want tarter.

Prawns (shrimp) – Cut the prawns in half horizontally and remove the vein.

Noodles – Soak the noodles in boiling water per packet directions. Rinse under cold water (to prevent stickiness) then drain very well.

Lay it all out – Pile everything onto a giant platter or put things in little bowls, then let everybody help themselves!

Assemble – Here's my order: lettuce leaf, noodles first, then veg* (carrots, bean sprouts etc), prawns, stuff herbs down the side, drizzle with sauce, sprinkle with peanuts and chilli. Bundle and bite!