earlier this year, we discovered a great little vietnamese restaurant in the city (#1 Phở on superior near deadman's curve, if you're local). and it just so happens to be a few blocks from the recording studio. their noodle soups are delicious and satisfying - but to be honest, i'd be happy just eating their fresh light summer rolls.
theirs (iPhone pic of the to-go box i procured in a whopping 4 minutes last night, which the hub and i split at 11pm) :
we've been working steadily on the recording each and every week, but it's been over a month since we've had a chance to stop for a bite, and my craving for their summer rolls was escalating. so i was left with no alternative. how could i forget how ridiculously easy they are to make at home? my craving combined with the timely posting of maya's recipe was just the ticket to lunch yesterday. and today. and most likely, tomorrow.
mine :
a few tips from my kitchen to yours:
- if the package instructions for rehydrating the rice noodles doesn't work for you - which it most certainly did not for me (5 minutes in cool water, no way sister) - try pouring a kettle of boiling water over them and let them swoosh around for a few minutes. they'll soften right up, and then just give them a cool rinse before adding a bit of flavor. which brings me to my next suggestion...
- flavor the noodles. this is directly from nigella (this book) folks, so you know it's good. combine 1 Tbsp each of rice vinegar and tamari (or soy sauce) with a few sloshes of fish sauce, and then pour it over the rice noodles to add the umami (a.k.a. something something) that will keep your tastebuds satisfied for hours.
- a cake pan is the perfect sized vessel to fill with warm water for softening the rice paper discs.
- make them pretty. you deserve it. what goes down on the rice paper first will be the most visible in your finished roll. i layered cilantro leaves topped with a few shrimp, then noodles + veggies and roll it all up. a feast for the eyes + the tummy.
- dipping sauce. hurley is not the only one to rave about the wonders of dipping sauce. mine is a simple spicy + slightly sweet combo of rice vinegar and a bit of sambal olek.
yep. lunch tomorrow. enjoy your weekend! xoxo
