Well Really, Life On The Street Is Not That Bad!!! Recipe and Story Within.

Well Really, Life On The Street Is Not That Bad!!! Recipe and Story Within.

Well Really, Life On The Street Is Not That Bad!!! Story Within.

This cyclo taxi as they call them here, just kicks back to relax before some westerner hops
on for a tour of the old quarters.
A tip for you unsuspecting tourists, before you set off on one of these relaxing rides, make
sure that you have an understanding on a price per hour.
Then you will not be confused on your return.
You will often see whole tour groups on these cyclos.
I remember on one of my previous trips in Saigon, I used to hop on one to cross the road as
the traffic would not stop for me, but no problem for the cyclo crossing at all.
It is a very relaxing method of seeing the city.
Great idea for a coastal resort, I would have thought.
Try one if you never been on one.

Delicious Vietnamese prawn spring rolls.
It has been a long time since I last made any.


1 cup chopped fresh mint leaves, try for the Vietnamese mint or use normal mint leaves.
1 cup fresh coriander leaves chopped
1 cup finely shredded cabbage or bok choy
1 cup fresh bean sprouts
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup coarsely grated carrot
3 cloves of crushed garlic
Mix all the above very well, after adding the cut noodles.

30 medium sized cooked prawns, split length wise, if you do not eat seafood, you
can use minced beef, chicken or pork.
If on the other hand, you are vegetarian just add some tofu.

120 grams dried thin rice noodles
15 sheets rice paper

6 tablespoons of sugar or the same amount of plum jam.
6 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soya sauce.
1 clove of crushed garlic.
1 teaspoon of crushed dry chillies.
1 small lime or lemon squeezed
1/4 cup of water.

Simple so far? good we are nearly there.
Now you need a largish bowl, place the noodles in the bowl and cover with boiling water
and let soak till soft, 10-15 minutes.
When soft, drain of water and cut the noodles in lengths of about 10 cm.
Then use the same bowl and fill with boiling water again, now dip half a sheet of the
rice paper in the water and turn so the other half is soaked.
This process is very fast.
Place the rice paper on a firm surface and first lay few of the prawns on it, remember
to have about 1 cm on either side of the paper for turning up before
rolling.
Then add some of the mixed greens, after rolling them all, place them in the fridge for
about an hour, while they are in the fridge, you can clean up and get prepared to deep fry
them.
I use top quality olive oil, optionally you can add a tablespoon of sesame seed oil, for
added flavour.

Put a small pot on low heat and add the water, peanut butter, ground chillies, lime juice/
sugar, soya and hoison sauce and clove of garlic in it and slowly stir till it has thickened.
You can garnish it if you like, with a little chopped spring onion and coriander leaves.

From The Walkabout Wok.


Walkabout John.