Title: Barbecued Shrimp Paste on Sugar Cane (Chao Tom)
Categories: Vietnamese Condiment Ceideburg
Yield: 1 Servings
| 1 | tb | Roasted rice powder |
| | | Scallion oil |
| | | Crisp-fried shallots |
| 1 | tb | Roasted peanuts, ground |
| 1 | lb | Raw shrimp in the shell |
| 1 | tb | Salt |
| 6 | | Garlic cloves, crushed |
| 6 | | Shallots, crushed |
| 2 | | Ounces rock sugar, crushed to a powder, or |
| 1 | tb | Granulated sugar |
| 4 | | Ounces pork fat |
| 4 | ts | Nuoc mam |
| | | Freshly ground black pepper |
| | | Peanut Sauce |
| | | Vegetable Platter |
| 8 | | Ounces 6 1/2-inch rice paper rounds (banh trang) |
| 12 | | Piece fresh sugar cane, or |
| 12 | oz | Sugar cane packed in light syrup, drained |
| 12 | | 8-1/2 ea inch bamboo skewers soaked in water for 30 minutes |
| | | Vegetable oil, for shaping shrimp paste |
| 8 | | Ounces extra-thin rice vermicelli |
The allied recipes for this rather complex operation follow in the next
post. Although this dish can be baked in an oven, I strongly suggest you
grill it over charcoal, for the result is far superior. The dish may be
prepared over 2 consecutive days. On day one, prepare the dipping sauce
and condiments. The Vegetable Platter and shrimp paste can be assembled
the following day. Fresh sugar cane may be obtained at Caribbean markets;
canned sugar cane is available at Asian grocery stores. Prepare the roasted
rice powder, scallion oil, crisp-fried shallots and roasted peanuts. Set
aside. Shell and devein the shrimp. Sprinkle the salt over the shrimp and
let stand for 20 minutes. Rinse the shrimp thoroughly with cold water.
Drain and squeeze between your hands to remove excess water. Dry thoroughly
with paper towels. Coarsely chop the shrimp. Boil the pork fat for 10
minutes. Drain and finely dice. In a food processor, combine the shrimp,
garlic, shallots and sugar. Process until the shrimp paste pulls away from
the sides of the container, stopping as necessary to scrape down the sides.
The paste should be very fine and sticky. Add the pork fat, roasted rice
powder, fish sauce and black pepper to taste to the processor. Pulse
briefly, only enough to blend all of the ingredients. Cover and
refrigerate. Meanwhile, prepare the Peanut Sauce and Vegetable Platter.
Cover the rice papers with a damp towel and a sheet of plastic wrap; keep
at room temperature until needed. Peel the fresh sugar cane; cut crosswise
into 4-inch sections. Split each section lengthwise into quarters. (if
using canned sugar cane, split each section lengthwise in half only, then
thread 2 pieces lengthwise onto a skewer.) Pour about 1/4 cup of oil into a
small bowl. Oil your fingers. Pick up and mold about 2 tablespoons of the
shrimp paste around and halfway down a piece of fresh sugar cane. Leave
about 1 1/2 inches of the sugar cane exposed to serve as a handle. (If
using canned sugar cane, there is no need to leave a handle. The skewers
will serve as handles.) Press firmly so that the paste adheres to the cane.
Proceed until you have used all the shrimp paste. Prepare a charcoal grill
or preheat the oven to broil. Meanwhile, steam the noodles, then garnish
with the scallion oil, crisp-fried shallots and ground roasted peanuts.
Keep warm. Pour the peanut sauce into individual bowls and place the
Vegetable Platter and rice papers on the table. Grill the shrimp paste on
the sugar cane over medium coals, turning frequently. Or Broil, on a baking
sheet lined with foil, under the broiler, about 6 inches from the heat, for
3 minutes on each side, or until browned. Transfer to a warm platter. To
serve, each diner dips a rice paper round in a bowl of warm water to make
it pliable, then places the paper on a dinner plate. Different ingredients
from the Vegetable Platter, some noodles and a piece of the shrimp paste,
which has been removed from the sugar cane, are added. The rice paper is
then roiled up to form a neat package. The roll is dipped in the Peanut
Sauce and eaten out of hand. The remaining sugar cane may be chewed. Note:
If both types of sugar cane are unavailable, use skewers. Shape the shrimp
paste into meatballs and thread 3 or 4 on each skewer. Yield: 4 to 6
servings. From "The Foods of Vietnam" by Nicole Rauthier. Stewart, Tabori &
Chang. 1989. Posted by Stephen Ceideberg; May 24 1993.