Gỏi Cuốn (Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls)

Gỏi Cuốn comes loaded with fresh herbs and ingredients. Learn how to wrap PERFECT Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls using our step-by-step instructions!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 kg / 2.2 lb fresh prawns ((deshelled))
• 1 kg / 2.2 lb pork belly
• thin rice noodles
• Thai basil
• Purple/Green perilla
• Bean sprouts
• Lettuce
• Garlic chives
• 1 packet rice paper ((we get the large ones from the Asian supermarket))

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Preparing The Greens ---
2. 2Remove the leaves from the herb and salad stems, then put them in a colander.
3. 3Fill a sink or large bowl with cold water and add 3 tbsp salt. Add the greens in to wash, then soak for 3 minutes. Rinse clean and repeat the salted soaking another 2 times to remove the impurities.
4. 4When finished, dry them in the colander until they're ready to use.
5. 5--- Preparing The Meat ---
6. 6Roll the pork belly along the length.
7. 7Wrap twine or string around the belly to secure its shape, then tie a few knots to prevent it from coming undone as it cooks.
8. 8Boil the meat in water for 1 hour or until soft, then take it out.
9. 9Remove the string and slice into thin pieces.
10. 10--- Cooking The Noodles ---
11. 11Boil a pot of water and cook the rice noodles for 10 minutes or until al dente. Make sure to stir every 3 minutes to prevent anything from sticking.
12. 12When cooked, drain the water and run the noodles under cold water until cool. Let it drip dry in a colander.
13. 13--- How To Wrap The Rolls ---
14. 14Organise your ingredients close to you before you even start rolling your Gỏi Cuốn. Keep the proteins and water closest to you, then noodles and herbs just behind them.Set up 2 plates side by side.
15. 15Dip the rice paper into the water until the entire surface is just wet. Make sure there is always another one wet and resting on the second plate.
16. 16Lay the lettuce on the part of rice paper closest to you. Place the other herbs on top.
17. 17Grab some noodles and place it over the herbs. The weight will help hold the greens down.
18. 18Slide a few pieces of pork above the greens. Make sure to leave no gaps because they will show in the final roll.
19. 19Place 2-3 prawns above the pork.
20. 20Fold the left and right side of the rice paper toward the middle.
21. 21Bring the bottom of the rice paper to the middle and begin rolling tightly, pressing down firmly with each roll.You can wedge a sprig of garlic chive along the length of the meat so that a part of it sticks out as a garnish.
22. 22Serve the Gỏi Cuốn fresh as is with Peanut Hoisin Sauce or Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nước Mắm)!