2 sm Garlic cloves, crushed
1 sm Fresh red chile pepper,
-seeded and minced
2 tb Sugar
2 tb Fresh lime or lemon juice
1/4 c Rice vinegar
1/4 c Nuoc mam (Vietnamese fish
-sauce)
1 sm Carrot, shredded
1 sm Daikon or turnip, peeled and
-shredded
1 t Sugar
-----------------------------VEGETABLE PLATTER-----------------------------
1 lg Head of Boston lettuce,
-separated into individual
-leaves
1 bn Scallions, cut 2" lengths
1 c Coriander leaves
1 c Mint leaves
1 c Fresh Asian or regular
-basil leaves
1 Cucumber, peeled in
-alternating strips, halved
-lengthwise and sliced
-crosswise
4 oz Fresh bean sprouts
Combine the garlic, chile and sugar in a mortar and pound with a pestle to
a fine paste. Add the lime juice, vinegar, fish sauce and 1/4 cup water.
Stir to blend. (Alternately, combine all ingredients in a food processor
or blender and process for 30 seconds, until the sugar dissolves.
Toss the carrot and daikon shreds with the sugar in a small bowl. Let
stand 15 minutes to soften the vegetables.
Add the Nuoc Cham to the softened vegetables and stir.
On a large platter, decoratively arrange the vegetable ingredients in
separate groups.
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