INGREDIENTS
Ingredients:
Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese dipping sauce):
3 tbsp granulated sugar
½ bird’s eye chile, thinly sliced
¼ cup fresh lime juice
2 tbsp fish sauce
Vietnamese Peanut Sauce:
6 tbsp hoisin sauce
3 tbsp creamy peanut butter
2 tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tsp chili garlic paste
Bowls:
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
1 tbsp plus ½ tsp kosher salt, divided
8 oz. medium shrimp, peeled, deveined
8 oz. straight-cut rice noodles
2 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
1 large carrot, thinly sliced into long batons
1 Persian cucumber, thinly sliced into long batons
½ avocado, thinly sliced
½ cup packed mixed fresh mint, cilantro, and Thai basil leaves
¼ cup unsalted roasted peanuts
DIRECTIONS
Directions:
Dipping Sauce:
1. In a medium bowl, whisk sugar and ½ cup hot water until sugar is dissolved. Whisk in chile, lime juice and fish sauce.
Vietnamese Peanut Sauce:
1. In another medium bowl, whisk hoisin sauce, peanut butter, vinegar, and chili garlic paste until combined.
Bowls:
1. In a medium pot over medium heat, cook sugar, vinegar, ½ tsp salt and 2 tbsp water, whisking frequently, until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes.
2. Add shrimp and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring constantly, until shrimp turns pink and curls up, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer shrimp mixture to a small bowl.
3. Wipe out the pot and fill halfway with water; season with remaining 1 tbsp salt. Bring to a boil and cook noodles, stirring occasionally, until tender, checking 2 minutes earlier than package directions. Drain, then rinse noodles under cold water.
4. Transfer noodles to a medium bowl. Add 6 tablespoons nuoc cham dipping sauce and toss to combine.
5. In a large bowl, toss lettuce, carrot, and cucumber with ½ cup nuoc cham.
6. Divide noodles among bowls. Nestle salad mixture alongside. Top with shrimp, avocado, herbs and peanuts. Serve with peanut sauce alongside.
*Chef’s Note: The sauces can be made up to 3 days ahead, while the shrimp and noodles can be cooked 2 days ahead. Store bowls separately in airtight containers and refrigerate.
