Vietnamese-Inspired Rice Crisps
Sometimes, in the midst of cooking, a what if? can lead you towards an entirely new path. That’s what happened when I set out to make Vietnamese summer rolls wrapped in sheets of rice paper. “Can you fry rice paper?” my partner wondered as he eyed the translucent round sheets. “Let’s experiment,” I gamely replied.
I recalled that Vietnamese spring rolls (the fried version of fresh summer rolls) are traditionally made with bánh tráng, or rice paper, but I had never attempted to fry a plain sheet.
I heated up some oil, cut a small wedge of rice paper, and slid it into the hot pan. With a magnificent sizzle, the sheet almost instantaneously morphed into a light rice chip, similar in texture to Vietnamese shrimp crackers but entirely vegetarian. Needless to say, the summer roll plans were cast aside.
Coming Up With A Vegan Appetizer
We had chips … now we needed “salsa.” Once again inspired by Vietnamese ingredients, I mixed up a tangy relish of carrots, radishes, peanuts, fresh herbs, a little chile pepper, and lime.
Then, to make this a more substantial vegan appetizer or small meal (indeed, we ended up having it for dinner), I included some lemongrass and garlic marinated tofu. The result: little cups of vibrant, multi-textured deliciousness.
Although the tofu adds a really nice savory element, you could also serve the chips with a bowl of relish for a casual, less composed appetizer. If you eat meat, you could also try shrimp in place of the tofu (and add a splash of fish sauce).
This recipe is also essentially gluten-free. However, if you or your guests are on a strict diet, be sure to check the ingredients on the soy sauce and (optional) hoisin sauce, as these sometimes contain wheat.
Vietnamese-Inspired Rice Crisps
Makes 16 crisps
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the relish:
- 2
medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/8-inch dice
- 4
medium radishes (or equivalent piece of daikon), peeled and cut into 1/8-inch dice
- 2 tablespoons
unsalted peanuts, crushed
- 2 tablespoons
finely chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon
minced shallot
- 1 teaspoon
finely chopped mint
- 1/2 teaspoon
seeded and minced red jalapeño or other chili
- 1 tablespoon
lime juice
- 1 tablespoon
rice vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon
sugar
For the tofu:
- 6 to 8 ounces
extra-firm tofu (half a standard package)
- 1 tablespoon
soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon
vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon
sesame oil
- 2 bulbs
lemongrass, minced
- 1 clove
garlic, minced
For the rice crisps:
- 2
(8-inch) round rice paper wrappers
Vegetable oil for frying
Optional garnishes:
Crushed peanuts
Mint leaves
Hoisin sauce
Instructions
For the relish:
Combine all relish ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Before serving, taste and adjust seasonings, if desired.
For the tofu:
Cut tofu into 1/2-inch pieces and press between clean kitchen towels or paper towels to rid of excess water. In a shallow dish, combine soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, lemongrass, and garlic. Place tofu in dish, gently coat slices with marinade, and arrange so they overlap as little as possible. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Cook in a skillet over moderate heat until brown and crisp on each side.
For the rice crisps:
Using scissors, cut each rice paper wrapper into 8 wedges. Heat a skillet with 1 inch of oil over moderate heat. The oil is hot enough when bubbles form around a wooden chopstick or the end of a wooden spoon inserted in the oil. Gently drop a rice paper wedge into the oil and fry until crisp, 1-2 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon or strainer and drain on paper towels. Repeat for remaining rice paper wedges.
To serve:
Divide tofu between rice crisps and top with relish. If desired, garnish with extra peanuts, mint leaves, and/or a spot of hoisin sauce. Serve immediately.
Related: Recipe: Kimchi Tofu Summer Rolls
(Images: Emily Ho)