I’ve given instructions before of how to make various Asian rolls, but these Thai Basil rolls are particularly versatile. You can add shrimp, tofu, or just stick with the basic ingredients for a simple appetizer. At a cooking class at Buford Highway Farmers Market, Chef Philippa Kingsley, “The Blonde Thai,” demonstrated how easy these are to make. She gave a lot of details about the ingredients, which I’ve tried to capture for you.
Thai Basil Rolls
1 packet dried round rice paper (May also be called salad roll wrappers. There are difference sizes, so start with medium and buy an extra one or two packages until you learn how to work with them. Rice paper is fragile, so make sure there are no crumbling edges and that you store them in a dry cupboard without anything sitting on top of them.)
4 ounces rice vermicelli, soak for 10 minutes in warm water, drain well and cut into 2 inch lengths. Cover with a damp cloth as you prepare the remaining ingredients.
1 cucumber, peeled, deseeded, and sliced into sticks
10 green lettuce leaves (tear away the white base of the leave if it is stiff and inflexible)
30 springs of fresh, sweet Thai basil leaves, remove stems
A large bowl of very warm water to soak the dried rice paper
Optional:
Cooked, peeled shrimp (slice in half length wise, marinate in lime juice 10 minutes)
Firm or fried tofu, cut into sticks
Arrange all the ingredients before you start. Cover your work surface with a damp tea towel.
Dip one rice paper roll into warm water just until softened. Lay the paper flat onto the damp tea towel. (If it clings to itself too much, throw it away and get another. This is the hardest step and you may ruin 2-3 before you get this right. Don’t be discouraged.) On one edge, add lettuce, vermicelli noodles, cucumber, basil. Top with shrimp or tofu if desired. Roll, folding in the edges halfway through (see slide show for details). Cut on the diagonal and serve with fresh plum sauce.
Contact Philippa for catering or classes at
Philippa’s Orient, Thai Catering and culinary school
470 Franklin Red NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
404-255-4760
Cell 404-667-3926
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