Spring Fling 2 - Pork Rice Paper Rolls

I used to be one of those people who would buy these at sushi bars and marvel at how delicate they are and assume there was a fine art to making them....  then I went to my neices' first birthday party almost 3 years ago and my sister had made a veritable feast of them (tofu as they are vegan) but they were every bit if not a little more delicious than the store ones.... so I got to thnking, surely I can make them too?

I make them pretty regularly in the hotter weather these days and they make an excellent change from sandwiches for lunch and can be made ahead earlier in the day for social gatherings, they're always a hit here - no exception was a little cocktail gig we had here last week.

My favourte ones I make are with the pork, but substiute that for cooked prawns, some left-over BBQ chicken or even if you are very lucky, BBQ pork or duck from a chinese butcher, again - use tofu for vegetarians and vegans.

Pork mince is affordable and tasty, and pretty easy on the palette.

Pork Mince:
I brown in a frypan 500 grams pork mince with 1 clove crushed garlic, 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger, 1/2 teaspoon hoi-sin sauce, and 1 tb oyster sauce. Set aside to cool (or if in a hurry in the freezer to cool for 10-15 minutes)

Other ingredients:
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 carrot, cut into thin strips or even peeled into thin ribbons
1/2 commercial sized bunch fresh coriander (cilantro) - say 12 sprigs
1/2 commercal sized bunch fresh mint - again about 5 sprigs, remove all stalks
Rice paper rolls

Rice paper rolls are very cost effective - you can get a couple dozen for under $3.00 in supermarkets these days but if you are unsuccessful there try an Asian grocer.

Method
Set up a 'making station'

You'll need allyour ingredients listed above plus basin/container of warm water - you'll need to dunk your rice paper in those so needs to be wide enough to accomodate.  Also you might want a plate/container handy that you will be storing/serving on.

Arrange your station in followng order
Ricepaper
Basin/container
Lettuce
Carrot
Coriander/Cilantro
Mint
Pork (or whatever you are substituting with)










Dunk your rice paper in for about 20 seconds, ensuring entirety is wet. 

Lay down on your bench and start assembling in the middle about 10cm long and 3cm wide:
the lettuce
then on top add 2 cuts of carrot
sprig of coriander with leaves that cover the entire length
mint leaves to cover the entire length of lettuce
lastly place some pork mince on top

Fold the roll like a present at first, join the top and bottom

Then bring one side in, then roll to seal.

Makes 18.

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