| 1 | The vietnamese use a small indoor earthen stove fueled with coal set on the table to simmer, boil and barbecue. |
| 2 | I have broiled this dish in an oven, with excellent results. |
| 3 | Sugar cane makes this recipe visually exciting and exotic. |
| 4 | Its sweetness subtly melts into the shrimp paste. |
| 5 | Sugar cane comes fresh and canned in better asian markets; the former is scarce and very expensive. |
| 6 | Check with the grocery clerk to make certain that you are buying the 6- to 7-inch long stalks, not the cubes. |
| 7 | The recipe serves well as a buffet appetizer or as a first course for a dinner party. |
| 8 | Shell and devein the shrimp. |
| 9 | Toss with salt; let sit for 10 minutes. |
| 10 | Rinse with cold water; drain thoroughly. |
| 11 | Blot dry. |
| 12 | In a food processor, finely mince the garlic and shallots. |
| 13 | Add sugar, pepper, toasted rice powder, fish sauce, and shrimp; process into a smooth paste. |
| 14 | With the machine running, pour the ice water through the feed tube; process until the shrimp is light and fluffy. |
| 15 | Cover and refrigerate. |
| 16 | Pour vegetable oil into a small bowl. |
| 17 | Place a wire cooling rack on a baking sheet; brush with oil. |
| 18 | Cut the sugar cane lengthwise into quarters to make 12 long strips. |
| 19 | Dip your fingers into the oil, then take about 2 tablespoons shrimp paste and evenly mold a 1-inch cylinder around a sugar cane strip, leaving 1 inch free at both ends. |
| 20 | Arrange the rolls on the rack diagonally, and keep them from touching each other. |
| 21 | Arrange the cucumber, mint and coriander leaves, and lettuce on a platter; set aside. |
| 22 | Broil the shrimp rolls about 6 inches from the heat, turning once, until the edges are bright orange and the filling feels firm to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes per side. |
| 23 | To serve, take a rice paper sheet and set it on a plate. |
| 24 | Dip a pastry brush into a bowl of water. |
| 25 | Brush the entire rice paper generously with water. |
| 26 | Let it sit until the paper is pliable and somewhat flimsy. |
| 27 | Put a lettuce leaf on one end of the paper. |
| 28 | Place a cucumber sliver, mint and coriander leaves on top of the lettuce. |
| 29 | Take a hot stick of sugar cane, break off the shrimp and place it on top of the vegetables. |
| 30 | Begin rolling up the paper to enclose the filling; form it into the shape of a cylinder. |
| 31 | Drip into the nuoc cham dipping sauce,. |
| 32 | And take a bite, then chew on the sugar cane for the sweetness (do not swallow the sugar cane). |
| 33 | Nuoc cham dipping sauce: grind the garlic, chiles and sugar into a paste in a mortar, blender or mini-food processor. |
| 34 | Stir in fish sauce, lime and water. |
| 35 | Strain into a dipping bowl. |
| 36 | Note: if sugar cane is not available, use a skewer or inexpensive bamboo chopsticks. |
| 37 | Soak them in water overnight before wrapping with shrimp paste. |
| 38 | Makes 12 rolls or serves 6 |