Last weekend our neighbors invited us over for a dinner party. We spent the evening enjoying the food and the company of a few neighboring families. It was good fun. We got to learn more about the people we have lived next door to for years!

The family that hosted the dinner are from Vietnam and they treated us by cooking traditional foods from their culture. We tried many new dishes including pho and Vietnamese spring rolls! The food kept coming and coming all night! They were very accommodating and we definitely did not leave hungry!

A couple of the dishes served had shrimp in it. I got a new perspective of ways to include shrimp in meals. One of my new favorite ways to prepare shrimp is by making Vietnamese spring rolls. They are fresh, quick and easy to prepare!

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Recipe for Spring Rolls Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 jalapeno, minced
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Directions

Mash minced garlic and minced jalapeño together with mortar and pestle. Mix in sugar. Then mix in fish sauce, lime juice and vinegar. Let stand for at least 30 minutes.

Recipe for rice paper rolls

Ingredients

• 8 oz. of Gorton’s Classic Grilled Shrimp
• 1/2 cucumber, (matchstick-size strips)
• 1 cup carrot, (matchstick-size strips or grated)
• 1 cups bean sprouts
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• 6 lettuce leaves, romaine or iceberg, (shredded)
• 10-12 (8-9 inch rounds) rice paper sheets

Directions

Cook shrimp as directed on Gorton’s box and cut the shrimp in half. Set aside. Wet rice paper to soften. Layer on the lettuce, herbs, sprouts, cucumbers, carrots – in a line on the rice paper – leaving 1 inch borders on each end . Then top it off with the halved shrimp pieces. Fold in the ends and roll it up in a tight cylinder. Repeat with remaining paper, cut each diagonally and arrange on platter with dipping sauce!

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Total Preparation Time: 30 min.
Serving: Approx. 12 rolls

Notes: Yum! The ingredients of mint, basil, cilantro, spicy chives, cucumber, carrot, lettuce, bean sprouts, and shrimp… so fresh! These spring roll were so different than all of the other (typically fried) spring rolls I’ve had. It is great for lunches or snacks. You can choose to eat it with the dipping sauce – or not!

This recipe can be made using one of my favorite pre-cooked shrimp, Gorton’s Classic Grilled shrimp! Gorton’s shrimp is tender, delicious and best of all – you don’t need to take off the head or anything! It’s pre cooked too! Gorton’s shrimp comes in a number of different varieties including breaded, sautéed, etc. I have tired them all, but prefer the plain shrimp for adding to meals such as soups, spring rolls and pasta dishes. Oh, and I should mention they are only 110 calories and 3g of fat!

I encourage you to Eat Seafood Twice a Week all year round and check out more from Gorton’s on their Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter @gortonsseafood.

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Disclosure: No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive a sample product from the sponsor for the purpose of this honest review. This did not affect the outcome of this review. All opinions are 100% my own. For full disclosure click here.