Kuay Teow Lui Suan (Thai spring rolls)
Kuay Teow Lui Suan is a unique and delicious dish from Thai cuisine, which is becoming increasingly popular due to its fresh taste and attractive presentation.
It is a relatively modern dish compared to other traditional Thai dishes, and here is some interesting information about its origins, history, peculiarities and flavor profiles.
Origin and history
- Origin of our hair: Kuay Teow Lui Suan is originally from Thailand. However, its exact origins within Thailand are not clearly recorded, adding to the dish's intrigue.
- Modern dish: Unlike many historical Thai dishes, Kuay Teow Lui Suan has a fairly recent history. It is a creative innovation on traditional Thai cuisine, possibly inspired by the evolution of street food culture in Thailand.
Particularities
- Presentation: The dish consists of rice noodle wrappers that are filled with a mix of fresh vegetables and herbs. The noodle wrappers are often kept soft and pliable to facilitate rolling.
- Composition: Typical fillings include lettuce, Thai basil, mint, cilantro, scallion, and sometimes shrimp or minced pork. These ingredients provide an explosion of flavors and textures.
Flavor profiles
- Fresh and aromatic: The taste of Kuay Teow Lui Suan is fresh and spicy, with a harmonious balance between the spicy aromas of basil, mint and coriander.
- Dressing room: The dish is often served with a sweet and sour sauce, usually made from lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and sometimes chili. This sauce enhances the fresh flavors of the vegetables and noodles.
- Texture: The soft texture of the rice noodles contrasts nicely with the crunchiness of the fresh vegetables.
Kuay Teow Lui Suan is an excellent example of the innovative spirit of Thai cuisine, combining traditional elements with new ideas to create something fresh and exciting. This dish is often appreciated in the warmer months for its refreshing nature, and it is popular as a street food as well as in restaurants. If you are a fan of Thai cuisine and want to try something new, Kuay Teow Lui Suan is definitely recommended!
If you're in Bangkok, head to Baan Suan Pai for a delicious Kuay Teow Lui Suan. You can also order vegetarian spring rolls (with tofu).
Ingredients list for Kuay Teow Lui Suan
For the rice noodle rolls:
- 200 grams of rice noodle sheets (also known as rice paper)
- 200 grams of minced pork (optional, can be replaced with shrimp or tofu for a vegetarian version)
- 1 head lettuce, cut into thin strips
- 1 bunch of Thai basil
- 1 bunch of mint
- 1 bunch of cilantro
- 4 spring onions, finely chopped
- 1 cucumber, cut into thin strips
- 1 carrot, julienne cut
For the dipping sauce:
- 3 tablespoons of fish sauce
- 3 tablespoons of lime juice
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 small red chili, finely chopped (optional)
- 100 ml water
Preparation
- Preparing the filling:
- Cook the minced pork in a pan until done. Let it cool.
- Wash the vegetables and herbs and cut them as indicated.
- Making the dipping sauce:
- In a small bowl, combine the fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, chili (if using), and water. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside.
- Assembling the rice noodle rolls:
- Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip a rice noodle sheet into the water for about 20 seconds until it is soft but still manageable.
- Place the soft sheet on a clean surface. Place a small amount of the lettuce, basil, mint, coriander, spring onion, cucumber, carrot and some of the cooked mince in the center of the sheet.
- Fold the sides of the sheet inward, then roll the sheet tightly to form a roll. Repeat this process until all ingredients have been used.
- To serve:
- Serve the Kuay Teow Lui Suan rolls with the dipping sauce on the side.
- You can leave the rolls whole or cut them into smaller pieces, depending on your preference.
Enjoy this refreshing and healthy Thai dish, perfect for a light meal or as a starter!