Vietnamese Lobster Rolls Recipes

VIETNAMESE FRESH SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Bring a medium saucepan of water to boil. Boil rice vermicelli 3 to 5 minutes, or until al dente, and drain.
• Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip one wrapper into the hot water for 1 second to soften. Lay wrapper flat. In a row across the center, place 2 shrimp halves, a handful of vermicelli, basil, mint, cilantro and lettuce, leaving about 2 inches uncovered on each side. Fold uncovered sides inward, then tightly roll the wrapper, beginning at the end with the lettuce. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
• In a small bowl, mix the fish sauce, water, lime juice, garlic, sugar and chili sauce.
• In another small bowl, mix the hoisin sauce and peanuts.
• Serve rolled spring rolls with the fish sauce and hoisin sauce mixtures.

GRILLED LOBSTER WITH VIETNAMESE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the garlic, chilies, sugar, fish sauce and lime juice. Set aside. Prepare a charcoal grill. Steam the lobsters for 5 minutes. When cool enough to handle, twist off the claws and tails. Cut the tails in half lengthwise and rub the exposed meat with the oil.
• Place the tails and claws on the grill over medium-hot coals and grill until just browned and cooked through, about 15 minutes, turning once. Serve hot with the dipping sauce.

ULTIMATE LOBSTER ROLLS

Steps:

• Crack the lobsters open using the back of a chef's knife or a lobster cracker. Do this carefully so the shells don't break into a lot of small pieces. Or, ask your fishmonger to remove the shells. Pull out the lobster meat and discard the shells. Roughly chop the meat into 2cm pieces, then put in a bowl, cover and chill until needed.
• Mix the mayonnaise, lemon juice, celery, most of the chives and cayenne together in a small bowl. Taste for seasoning, adding more lemon juice if needed. Toss the lobster with the dressing.
• Slice a thin piece off the sides of each bun, then split them open, being careful not to cut all the way through. Melt the butter in a frying pan and fry the buns for 1-2 mins on the cut sides until golden and toasted. Pile the lobster filling into rolls, then sprinkle with another pinch of cayenne and the reserved chives. Eat alongside some ready salted crisps, if you like.

LOBSTER SUMMER ROLLS

Steps:

• Make the summer roll filling: In a small bowl, combine lobster meat, ginger, lime zest and scallions. Season with salt and pepper, toss to coat and set aside. Slice cucumber lengthwise into thin julienne strips. Quarter and peel avocados.
• Fill a medium bowl with lukewarm water. To make each roll, dip a rice paper round into water until just softened, then remove and spread flat on a cutting board. (If you are using 8-inch rounds, dip 2 rounds for each roll, then overlap them as you spread them flat on a cutting board.)
• Lay 2 or 3 basil leaves along the bottom third of the softened rice paper round, then spread round with 2 ounces lobster mixture. Top with a few strips of cucumber and 1/4 of an avocado cut in chunks. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and press down to compress, then add a few cilantro sprigs.
• To roll up, fold sides of rice paper round toward its center, overlapping filling by an inch or so. Now, starting at bottom of round, begin to form a tight cylinder, rolling toward top. Repeat to make rest of the rolls. Put on a tray, cover and refrigerate for an hour.
• Make the dipping sauce: Mix together lime juice, sugar, ginger, fish sauce and chile. Let macerate at least 30 minutes.
• To serve, carefully cut each roll into 3 or 4 pieces, and stir chopped peanuts into dipping sauce. Place rolls on lettuce leaves, and serve with sauce.

FRESH MANGO-LOBSTER SPRING ROLLS

Steps:

• Combine fish sauce, wine or sherry, 1 1/2 teaspoons ginger, and cilantro leaves in a medium bowl. Add lobster; toss to coat. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large cooking pan over medium-high heat and swirl to coat pan. Add green tea and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add remaining ginger and saute another 30 seconds. Add lobster mixture; stir and toss until it heats through, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Let cool, then mix in mango.
• Fill a medium bowl with warm water. Dip one of the wrappers in the water for 15 seconds, or until softened. Carefully transfer it to a dry work surface.
• Arrange 2 to 3 tablespoons of the filling in an even horizontal mound just below the center of the wrapper. Roll up the rice paper to form a tight cylinder, folding in the sides about halfway. Assemble the remaining spring rolls the same way.
• Cover finished rolls with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying. Serve fresh rolls whole or cut in half, with Sweet-and-Sour Chili Sauce.