Pad Thai Spring Rolls with Tamarind Dipping Sauce

Pad Thai Spring Roll Ingredients Ready for Assembly

One of my favorite dishes is Pad Thai. I love the refreshing sweet and sour sauce, the bright herbs, and the juicy shrimp. I recently tried to create an appetizer that captured all the flavors of traditional Pad Thai, but presented in a totally new way. That’s how these Pad Thai spring rolls with tamarind dipping sauce came to exist.

Ingredients for Pad Thai Spring Rolls Tamarind Dipping Sauce

Ingredients for Tamarind Dipping Sauce

Tamarind Dipping Sauce

This sauce is at the heart of Pad Thai. It’s a perfect balance of sweet, sour, salt, spice, and acidity. To make it, you need rice vinegar, fish sauce, fresh tamarind concentrate (concentrated juice and pulp from the tamarind fruit), palm sugar (an unrefined sugar made from the sap of palm trees), Thai bird chiles, shallots, garlic, and kaffir lime leaves. read more

Khong River House Miami Beach, FL

Interior of Khong River House Restaurant in Miami Beach, FL

Interior of Khong River House Restaurant in Miami Beach, FL

When dining out I prefer authentic establishments that highlight regional flavors and fresh ingredients. I love Raku in Las Vegas which features authentic Japanese cuisine and I’m a huge fan of Tony Hu’s Chinese restaurants in Chicago widely known for their regional authenticity. I love that food has the power to transport you to other places—moules marinières always takes me to France where Corey and I spent our honeymoon and whenever I eat kimchi-bokkeumbap I always imagine eating in a snack-food restaurant in Korea. read more

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

I love Vietnamese Spring Rolls. They’re fun to make and can be prepared in advance, making them a great party food. Their transparent wrapper makes for a wonderful presentation, highlighting the vibrant colors of the filling. They’re also a healthy alternative to fried spring rolls and dumplings. Having a crisp, cool spring roll paired with two delicious sauces leads to a satisfying appetizer.

Vietnamese Spring Rolls Ingredients

I have decided that it would be fun to do a Featured Ingredient Series, where I highlight a specific ingredient in a meal. This way I can introduce new ingredients to your kitchen. read more