See Kelsey Cook: Vietnamese Summer Rolls

I'd never made Vietnamese Summer Rolls before, but had always wanted to try. It was a little intimidating being a first timer, but I think with all things new - you just have to get in there and give it your best shot. I did exactly that, and came out on the other end alive to tell you about it.

Ingredients:
Rice Paper Rounds
Rice Noodles
Shrimp
Crab Meat (I used fake)

Leaf Lettuce
Carrot
Red Pepper
Cucumber
Avocado

Basil
Cilantro

Directions:
Slice shrimp in half. Separate crab meat. Soak rice noodles in very hot water for 15-20min. Drain water into a shallow dish. Reserve noodles. Thinly slice carrot, red pepper, and cucumber. Thinly slice avocado and coat in lemon juice. Pick basil and cilantro leaves. Soak rice paper in warm water in shallow dish for 30-60sec. Transfer to work surface. Layer with vegetables, rice noodles, and seafood. Roll like a burrito. Cut and serve.

Prep seafood.

Remove the shrimp's shells & cut in half lengthwise.

Shred crabmeat.

Prep veg filling. Thinly slice half of a red bell pepper.

Partially peel half of a cucumber and thinly slice.

Thinly slice an entire avocado. Douse in lemon juice to prevent browning (oxidation).

Remove cilantro leaves from the stem.

Remove the basil leaves from the stem. Tear large basil leaves in half.

Very thinly slice half a carrot.

Separate leafy lettuce leaves.

Heat 8C of water over high heat just below a simmer.

Place the rice noodles in a bowl.

Pour hot water over the noodles. Soak for 15-20min.

Drain the noodles, reserving the hot water into a shallow dish.

Rinse the noodles with cold water.

Set colander on top of the bowl the noodles soaked in to catch any extra water that needs to be drained.

Using the reserved/warm water, soak one rice paper sheet at a time for 30-60sec. (If the water becomes too cool, simply microwave the shallow dish of water for 30-45sec to reheat)

Dunk

Submerge

The stiff sheet will start to loosen.

The sheet will soon become extremely pliable. Despite its thinness, the soaked rice paper sheet is relatively sturdy - so don't worry about it tearing.

Place sheet on a work surface. Fill each sheet with whatever you want. *A few things to remember though: Don't over stuff - less is more. Always begin with a leaf of lettuce - this will aid in keeping the roll's shape. The first roll will never turn out quite right - practice makes perfect. No need to work at a frenetic pace as the sheets won't dry out quickly.