Spicy Mango Shrimp

We have a favorite little Thai restaurant that we frequent and Brian's favorite dish is the Fried Pineapple Rice. This dish, Spicy Mango Shrimp, looked not only delicious (from our Sunset Magazine cookbook) but seemed similar to a tried and true favorite. We were not disappointed. This was a flavorful, light meal with sweetness from the mango and coconut and just enough heat from the red chili flakes. The only change I will make for next time is to add the basil at the end (along with the coconut) so that it creates more of a flavor/color-pop. The whole meal comes together quickly and is great for a quick weeknight take-out-made-at-home dinner.

Vietnamese Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Lime Dipping Sauce

These delicious little bundles were meant to be served as an appetizer but we had them for dinner. Every time I make lettuce wraps, I love them. There are just so many flavors and textures going on and - bonus - you get to eat with your hands, building each wrap one by one, with as much or as few toppings as you like. This recipe called for cellophane noodles, shrimp, shredded carrot, basil, mint, cilantro and chopped peanuts. I also added thinly sliced scallion and jalapeño to the mix for an extra layer of flavor and heat. The dipping sauce was perfect: red chile flake, lime juice, garlic, sugar and fish sauce.

Enjoy these wraps with a cold beer!

buon appetito!

Tempa

Vegetable Pho with Shrimp

I had a bit of a craving for a delicious, bright soup flavored with tangy lemongrass, so I decided to make this Vegetable Pho with Shrimp (page 259) and it totally hit the spot. While there were a few steps that took some time (making the lemongrass stock, peeling shrimp, chopping veggies, soaking noodles) none of which were remotely difficult, and all my efforts came together in a soothing, layered soup.

I opted to use very fine rice noodles (not only for the limited availability but for the delicate texture they provide) as opposed to the wider stick noodles, and they worked perfectly. There was plenty of soup for a generous lunch, and then some (I have actually been eating this for lunch the last few days... still so good!). A beautiful dish that is sure the please!

Stephanie