Vietnamese Prawn Salad Recipes

Steps:

• To make the dressing, mash the garlic, chilli and sugar using a pestle and mortar. Add the lime juice and 3 tbsp water and stir together. Set aside.
• Get the kettle on, put the noodles into a bowl, then cover with boiling water. Leave to stand for 10 mins until tender, then drain and divide between 2 bowls. 3 Mix the prawns and veg together and divide between the bowls, too. Finish by topping each salad with the herbs and peanuts, then pour over the dressing to serve.

Steps:

• To make the Vietnamese Dressing, simply mix all the ingredients together. This will keep very well in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator for at least a week.
• To make the salad, marinate the shrimp in 1/2 cup of the Vietnamese Dressing. While this is going on, soak the noodles in freshly boiled water according to packet instructions. Once re-hydrated, refresh the noodles in cold water, then drain. Put the sugar snaps and bean sprouts into a colander and pour over freshly boiled water from a kettle. Rinse them with cold water and drain well, just shaking the colander, so they're not actually wet.
• In a large bowl, mix the marinated shrimp with the drained noodles, scallions, sugar snaps, and bean sprouts. Dress with 2 tablespoons more of the Vietnamese Dressing; add more dressing, to taste, if desired.
• Sprinkle over the chopped cilantro and toss everything together well before arranging onto a large plate.

Steps:

• To make the dressing, bash the chilli (if using) using a pestle and mortar. Add the remaining ingredients, mix together and taste for a good combination of sweet, sour, salty and hot, then set aside.
• Combine the prawns, mint, coriander, lychees, beansprouts and half the peanuts with the dressing, and toss well. Pile onto a serving platter and scatter with the remaining peanuts and the garlic chips or crispy onions (if using). Put in the middle of the table and let everyone help themselves.

Steps:

• For the crispy shallots, heat 5cm of oil until hot in a wok. You will know the oil is hot enough when one piece of shallot sizzles as soon as it's dropped in. Toss the shallot slices with flour, shake off excess and fry in the oil until golden. They fry quickly, about 1 min. Drain on kitchen paper, sprinkle with salt and set aside.
• To make the dressing, mix the lime juice, sugar, fish sauce and garlic and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, pour boiling water over the noodles. Leave them for 2 mins or until they are just cooked, then rinse under cold water. Drain well, shaking the sieve numerous times to get out the excess water, then place back in the bowl. Add prawns, onion, chilli, cucumber and herbs. Pour the dressing over, mix, then sprinkle with the shallots and peanuts.

Steps:

• Cook the noodles following pack instructions. Drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and cook the spring onions and lemongrass for 2 mins or until softened. Add the prawns and cook for 3 mins or until they have turned pink. Tip everything into a large bowl and allow to cool while you make the dressing.
• Put all the dressing ingredients in a mini chopper and blitz until very finely chopped. Taste and add a little more sugar (to sweeten) and fish sauce (to make saltier), if you like. Tip the noodles into the bowl with the prawns, then add the rest of the ingredients and dressing, and toss really well before serving.