Vietnamese Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with Nuoc Cham, a light and refreshing lunch or appetizer, perfect for warm summer days. Flavorful, healthy and low in carbs and calories.
The summer we have wished for all winter long is finally here- with its all its heat and intensity. The last time I was this hot, we were in Vietnam, last spring, staying in a little town called Hoi An. The heat literally melted our appetite away. I began to feel this way a few days ago and remembered how light and cooling Vietnamese dishes could be, so I recreated a salad we had there, into these shrimp lettuce wraps.
This recipe starts with fresh veggies and lots of fresh herbs. Butter lettuce seems to work the best as the wrap or cup. For each bunch of butter lettuce, plan on 12 good size leaves.
The Vietnamese wraps are loaded up with shredded veggies. Carrots, radishes, daikon, cabbage, cucumber or even beets- use what you have!
Avocado gives this a little more heartiness and is the only “fat” in the recipe. The flavorful dressing, Nuoc Cham, a traditional Vietnamese condiment, is completely free of oil. The result is a cooling and satisfying summer dish, which is healthy, low fat, and full of Vietnamese flavor.
In our catering business, we often serve variations of these on large platters as appetizers. It seems to be a big hit during the hot months. Tonight, it serves as our dinner. The good thing is… it’s very easy and fast to prepare, and involves no stove or oven, keeping your house nice and cool.
Nuoc Cham, a Vietnamese dressing or condiment is easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. Lime juice, sugar, fish sauce, chili peppers, garlic and water. For those of you wrinkling your nose at fish sauce, know this: When properly balanced, you don’t really taste it. Without it, the dish falls short.
The sauce is a delicate balance between sour, sweet, salty and spicy, bringing all the elements together in harmony. If you have an aversion to fish sauce, my guess is …you had something where it was overpowering and not properly balanced. Try giving it another shot. Once you experience Nuoc Cham, in its balanced state, you will fall in love. And fish sauce, believe it or not, is really good for you too.
Once the dressing is made, the rest comes together very quickly. I can put this together in 10-15 minutes if I work fast.
