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Bò bía
Jicama and sausage rice paper rolls
Bò bía: soft rice paper rolls of jicama, Chinese sausage, dried shrimp and egg with hoisin-peanut dip
VietnameseBò bía carts park outside the schools of Chợ Lớn, Saigon's Chinatown, every afternoon, and the vendor rolls each one to order: sweet stir-fried jicama and carrot, crisp slices of lạp xưởng (Chinese pork sausage), toasted dried shrimp and ribbons of omelette, wrapped with basil and lettuce in soft rice paper and dipped in hoisin sauce loosened with peanut butter. It is a cousin of Chinese popiah and a favourite after-school snack. Chef's tip: dip the rice paper for only a second or two; it keeps softening as you fill it.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the filling
- 1 oz dried shrimp
- 5 ½ oz Chinese pork sausage (lạp xưởng)thinly sliced on the diagonal
- 3 eggs
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 14 oz jicamapeeled and cut into matchsticks
- 1 carrotcut into matchsticks
- ¼ tsp salt
To roll
- 12 rice paper wrappers22 cm
- 1 bunch Thai basil
For the dip
- 4 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
- 4 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp roasted peanuts (optional)crushed
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Soak 1 oz dried shrimp in warm water for 10 minutes, then drain.
10 minStep 2: Fry 5 ½ oz Chinese pork sausage (lạp xưởng) in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 4–5 minutes, until the fat runs, the edges crisp and it is hot through (160°F). Add the shrimp for the last 2 minutes. Lift out.
5 minStep 3: Beat 3 eggs and cook as two thin omelettes in a little of ½ tbsp vegetable oil over a medium-low heat, until fully set. Roll and slice into ribbons.
5 minStep 5: Simmer 4 tbsp hoisin sauce, 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter and 4 tbsp water for 1 minute, stirring, until smooth. Top with 2 tbsp roasted peanuts.
2 minStep 6: Dip one 12 rice paper wrappers in warm water for 1–2 seconds and lay it flat. Common mistake: soaking it until floppy, which tears as you roll.
1 minStep 7: Lay a leaf of 12 soft lettuce leaves on the lower third, add jicama, egg, sausage, shrimp and a few 1 bunch Thai basil leaves. Fold in the sides and roll up tightly. Repeat and serve with the dip.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 390 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bò bía take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of carrot?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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