_paper Wrapping Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl filled with warm water, soak 1 rice paper wrapper for about 20 seconds or until soft. Lay wrapper out on a tea towel to absorb excess water. Transfer wrapper to a flat surface. About 1/3 from the bottom of the wrapper, create a 3-inch long row by placing some cilantro leaves followed by some red pepper, yellow pepper, snow peas, mushrooms, bean sprouts, buckwheat noodles and a little ginger. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the top 1/3 of the rice wrapper with black sesame seeds. Carefully fold the bottom of the rice paper wrapper over the vegetables. Turn in the sides and continue rolling up from the bottom.
• To serve, slice the roll in half on a bias. Serve with Orange-Chili Dipping Sauce.
• In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the sesame oil and rice wine vinegar. Toss the cooked buckwheat noodles in the sesame mixture. Set aside.
• Whisk together all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. Allow the sauce to stand for 30 minutes so that the flavors can infuse. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Put the noodles in a pan of water and bring to the boil, simmer for 3 mins, then cool under running water. Drain thoroughly.
• Cut the carrot into matchsticks using a knife or a mandoline. Cut the avocado into strips and the cucumber into thin sticks. Soak 2 of the rice paper wraps in cold water for 1-2 mins until floppy.
• Lift 1 sheet of rice paper out of the water, shake gently, then lay it carefully on a board. Place 2 prawns in the centre, with a mint leaf between them. Add a strip of avocado, pile some noodles on top, then add a layer of carrot and cucumber. Fold the bottom half of the rice paper over, then fold the sides in and tightly roll it up. Repeat using the second wrapper and soak 2 more to make 2 more rolls.
• Make the rest of the rolls up using the remaining 4 wraps and the shredded chicken instead of prawns. Serve the rolls with the sweet chilli sauce for dipping.

Steps:

• 1. Cut beef against the grain in slices 1/2 inch thick, then in rectangles 1 by 1 1/2 inches. 2. Mince garlic, and combine with soy sauce, sherry, sugar, salt, prepared mustard, pepper and sesame oil. Mix well, then add to beef and toss gently to coat. Let stand 1 hour, turning meat occasionally. 3. Drain well, discarding marinade. Then wrap beef in paper envelopes (see HOW-TO, _Paper Wrapping). Meanwhile, heat oil. 4. Add beef a few envelopes at a time, and deep-fry until done (about S minutes). Drain on paper toweling and serve beef hot in wrappers. NOTE: The wrappers help hold in flavor and retain heat. To eat, the diner breaks the envelope open with chopsticks or fork and discards the paper. The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.

Steps:

• Use a heavy tissue, rice paper, parchment-type, or wax paper. Do not use aluminum foil. (The wrapping must be porous.) Cut the paper in 4-inch squares. Place each square with the lower corner pointing toward you. Grease paper with a drop of oil (peanut or sesame, lard or chicken fat). Place the meat or chicken well below the center line of the square. Fold up the lower corner to cover the meat. Then fold the lower section once more (to the center line). Next, fold the left corner over and the right, envelope-style. Finally, fold the remaining top corner down, like an envelope flap, and tuck its end in securely. Repeat until all meat or chicken is paper-wrapped.NOTE: Paper-wrapping, used with deep-fried foods, acts much like a batter coating in insulating ingredients against the hot oil. (If the meat is cut in narrow strips, 2 pieces may be enclosed in each wrapping. The paper may also be cut in smaller, or 2 1/2-inch, squares.)The Thousand Recipe Chinese Cookbook. ©1994 by Gloria Bley Miller.