Donnas Chile Rice Paper Rolls Recipes

Steps:

• Put the cellophane noodles, vegetables, cilantro and peanuts in a large bowl; toss with sesame oil and lime juice to give the filling some flavor; season with salt and pepper.
• Pour 3 cups of hot, not boiling water in a large shallow bowl. One at a time, immerse the rice paper wrappers in the hot water for 10 seconds to soften, then place on a slightly damp towel. The rice paper is very delicate, don't soak them any longer or they will break apart. Keep them covered while you work to prevent them from drying out and curling.
• To form the rolls, lay a rice paper wrapper on a flat surface. Grab a small amount of the cellophane and vegetable mixture and lay it across the bottom third. Use less filling than you think you should, if you overstuff the wrapper it will tear. Carefully fold the bottom of the wrapper up to cover the filling. Fold in the left and right sides, then tuck and roll it over once. Lay 2 mint leaves on top, then tuck and roll it over to close the whole thing up like a tight cigar. The mint leaves should show through the transparent rice paper. Arrange the finished rolls on a platter and cover with a damp towel.
• Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce:
• In a blender, puree the rice wine vinegar, fish sauce, hot water, sugar, lime juice, garlic, and chili paste until combined. Pour into a small bowl and serve with the summer rolls.
• Yield: 1 cup

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, saute the garlic and pepper flakes in oil for 1-2 minutes or until garlic is tender. Add the water, peanut butter, hoisin sauce and tomato paste; cook and stir for 2-4 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; set aside., For rolls, cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water; drain well. Add hoisin sauce if desired; toss to coat. In a small bowl, combine the red pepper, cucumber and carrot. Set aside noodles and vegetables., Fill a shallow bowl with water. Soak a rice paper in the water just until pliable, 30-45 seconds (depending on thickness of rice papers); remove, allowing excess water to drip off., Place on a flat surface. Layer vegetables and noodles down the center; top with peanuts and, if desired, cilantro. Fold both ends over filling; fold one long side over the filling, then roll up tightly. Place seam side down on a serving platter. Repeat with remaining ingredients., Cover with damp paper towels until serving. Cut rolls diagonally in half; serve with peanut sauce.

Steps:

• Soak the noodles in boiling water from the kettle, following pack instructions. Drain and rinse under cold running water to cool, then toss in a little sesame oil to stop them sticking together.
• Next, make the dipping sauce by mixing all the ingredients together. Set aside.
• Fill a wide, shallow dish a few centimetres deep with warm water. Working with one rice paper wrap at a time, soak it for a few seconds until it's flexible, then lay it on a chopping board. Scatter some of the herbs down the centre, then top with a couple of prawns or a little bit of chicken, then some veg pieces and mango, and a small bundle of noodles. Try to keep the fillings in the centre, and don't overfill. Tuck the ends of the wrap over the ingredients to slightly enclose them, then roll up from the sides, keeping everything as tight as you can. Put the finished rolls on a plate covered with a damp sheet of kitchen paper until you're finished assembling all the rolls. Will keep in the fridge for up to 24 hrs. Serve with the sesame dipping sauce.