Name: Thi Le’s Vietnamese spring rolls with mustard leaves and herbs
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 100 gm mung bean noodles (see note); For deep-frying: vegetable oil, plus 50ml extra; 125 gm taro, cut into julienne (see note); 1 small onion, thinly sliced; 500 gm cabbage, thinly sliced; 2 carrots, cut into julienne; 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced; 2 tbsp kecap manis; 2 tbsp oyster sauce; 20 gm caster sugar; 50 gm fresh wood ear fungi, thinly sliced (see note); 24 (350gm) frozen spring roll wrappers, defrosted overnight in the refrigerator; 1 eggwhite, lightly beaten; To serve: mustard greens (gai choy; see note), Vietnamese mint and coriander; Nuoc cham; 90 gm caster sugar; 150 ml rice vinegar; 150 ml fish sauce; 3 tsp lime juice, or to taste; 1 garlic clove, finely chopped; 1 red birdseye chilli, finely chopped

Thi Le’s Vietnamese spring rolls with mustard leaves and herbs

A textural filling of shredded taro, carrots and wood ear mushrooms equal these crisp, moreish parcels. Try stopping at one.

Makes 24

Prep

45M

Cook

45M

Total

1H 30M

At Melbourne’s Anchovy, the Vietnamese spring rolls are filled with a textural filling of shredded taro, cabbage, carrot and wood ear mushroom, plus mung bean noodles. Not only do the mustard greens provide freshness and crunch, but wrapped around a piping-hot spring roll, they’re also a protective layer for your hands. Start this recipe a day ahead to defrost the spring roll wrappers in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

100 gm mung bean noodles (see note)

For deep-frying: vegetable oil, plus 50ml extra

125 gm taro, cut into julienne (see note)

1 small onion, thinly sliced

500 gm cabbage, thinly sliced

2 carrots, cut into julienne

2 celery stalks, thinly sliced

2 tbsp kecap manis

2 tbsp oyster sauce

20 gm caster sugar

50 gm fresh wood ear fungi, thinly sliced (see note)

24 (350gm) frozen spring roll wrappers, defrosted overnight in the refrigerator

1 eggwhite, lightly beaten

To serve: mustard greens (gai choy; see note), Vietnamese mint and coriander

Nuoc cham

90 gm caster sugar

150 ml rice vinegar

150 ml fish sauce

3 tsp lime juice, or to taste

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

1 red birdseye chilli, finely chopped

Method

Main

1.For nuoc cham, stir sugar and 100ml water in a small saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves (1-2 minutes). Cool (15-20 minutes), then stir in remaining ingredients and combine.

2.Meanwhile, soak mung bean noodles in cold water until soft (30 minutes). Drain well, then cut into rough 5cm lengths with scissors. Set aside.

3.Heat oil for deep-frying to 180C in a deep saucepan. Remove saucepan from heat, add taro gradually, allowing for oil to bubble up as you do, then when bubbles die down, return pan to heat and deep-fry, stirring occasionally, until taro is golden and crisp (3-4 minutes; be careful, hot oil will spit). Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Reserve oil.

4.Heat 50ml oil in a large wok over medium heat, add onion and stir-fry until just tender (3-5 minutes). Add cabbage, carrot and celery and stir-fry until tender (3-5 minutes). Remove from heat, add kecap manis, oyster sauce and sugar, season to taste, then add fungi, noodles and taro, check seasoning and set aside to cool (45 minutes to 1 hour).

5.Working with 4 spring roll wrappers at a time, place on a bench with a corner towards you. Brush edges with eggwhite. Add ¼ cup vegetable mixture to each down the centre in a line about 15cm long, fold corner closest to you tightly over the filling, then fold in sides and roll up to enclose, ensuring edges are sealed. Repeat with remaining rolls in batches. Spring rolls can be made ahead and kept frozen in airtight containers with baking paper between each layer for up to a month.

6.Heat oil for deep-frying to 180C in a deep saucepan, add spring rolls in batches and deep-fry until golden and crisp (4-6 minutes). Drain on paper towels and serve with mustard leaves, Vietnamese mint and coriander for wrapping and nuoc cham.

Note Mung bean noodles are available from Asian grocers and supermarkets. Taro, wood ear fungi and mustard greens (gai choy) are available from select Asian grocers and green grocers.
Notes