*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                      VIETNAMESE CRAB SPRING ROLLS

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 16   Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Appetizers                       Seafood

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  2       oz           Dried bean thread noodles
                       -(MUNG bean)
  3       tb           Sm. dried tree-ear mushrooms
  1       lb           Ground pork butt
  4                    Garlic cloves
                       - finely minced or pureed
  1       tb           Fish sauce
    1/2   ts           Fresh finely ground pepper
  1       c            Flaked crab meat
  1       c            Grated carrot
  1       c            Bean sprouts -- tails removed
  4                    Shallots -- minced OR
  1       sm           -Onion
  2       c            Warm water
    1/4   c            Sugar
 16                    12" rice paper wrappers
                       - (dried)
                       Peanut oil for deep-frying
                       Lettuce leaves
                       Fresh mint
                       Fresh coriander leaves

 IN SEPARATE MEDIUM BOWLS, soak the mung bean noodles and tree-ear mushrooms
 with water until soft and pliable. Drain the noodles and cut into shorter
 lengths; set aside. Remove the hard centers from the mushrooms, coarsely
 chop and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine the pork, garlic, fish sauce
 and ground pepper. Mix in crab meat, tree-ear mushrooms, carrots, bean
 sprouts, shallots and bean thread noodles; set aside. Combine the warm
 water and sugar in a bowl. Lay 1 rice paper wrapper on a damp towel. (Keep
 unused wrappers in their package.) Generously brush it with the sugar
 water; allow it to soften to a very pliable wrapper, about 30 seconds or
 sometime longer (depending upon the brand). With your hands shape 3
 tablespoons filling into a tight compact 1-inch-wide-by-4-to-5-inch-long
 cylinder. Place cylinder along the lower edge of wrapper. Roll the bottom
 up and over the roll tightly. Fold both outside edges inward to enclose the
 ends. Continue rolling up into a cylinder; set aside covered with plastic
 wrap. Repeat until all the rolls are done. To cook and brown evenly, the
 roll must be firm and evenly packed. If the wrapper has a tear, bandage it
 with a softened rice-paper remnant. In a preheated wok or saucepan, add oil
 to a depth of 2 inches and heat to 325F. Add a few rolls at a time, but do
 not crowd. Fry for 10 seconds. Immediately increase to high heat or 375F.
 Fry, turning occasionally until golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove
 and drain on paper towel. Cut crosswise into 1+1/2-inch pieces. Arrange
 rolls on a plate lined with lettuce. On another plate, arrange leaves of
 lettuce, fresh coriander and mint leaves. To eat, wrap spring-roll garnish
 with sprig of coriander and mint leaves in a lettuce leaf and dip into nuoc
 cham sauce (See RECIPE).



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