Pomelo and prawn rice paper rolls with mint
Mid-Autumn pomelo rolled in rice paper with prawns, mint and lettuce and dipped in a lime and fish sauce dressing — sharp, sweet and refreshing to lift a heavy mood.
- 28 min
- Serves 2
- Roll
- Easy
Why it suits you: Qi-stagnant types are prone to low moods, a tight chest and frequent sighing, and Bailu's cool mornings and hot afternoons leave them restless. Pomelo regulates qi, resolves phlegm and aids digestion, while mint and coriander are aromatic, soothing the liver and moving qi; prawns nourish without heaviness. Sharp, sweet and fresh, these rolls brighten the mood.
Method
Prep 25 min · Cook 3 min- 1Peel and devein the prawns, blanch for 2 minutes until pink, cool in cold water and halve lengthways. Soak the vermicelli until soft, blanch for 1 minute, rinse in cold water and drain.
- 2Remove the pith and membrane from the pomelo and break into small pieces. Mix the lime juice with the fish sauce, sugar and water for the dip.
- 3Dip a sheet of rice paper in warm water for 3–5 seconds and lay it on a damp cloth. Line up 3 prawn halves, then add lettuce, vermicelli, pomelo, mint and coriander.
- 4Fold in the sides and roll up tightly from the bottom. Halve and serve with the dip.
Cautions
- Pomelo, like grapefruit, can affect how the body handles certain medicines, including some cholesterol and blood pressure drugs and immunosuppressants — check with your doctor if you take regular medication; avoid if prawns disagree with you.
Chef's tips
- Don't over-soak the rice paper — lift it out while still slightly stiff, as it softens as you roll; lay the prawns pink side down on the wrapper so they show through once rolled.
The TCM view
Pomelo is sweet, sour and cold, entering the lungs and spleen, regulating qi, resolving phlegm and aiding digestion. Mint is pungent and cool, soothing the liver, moving qi and clearing the head; coriander is aromatic and moves qi; prawns are sweet and warm, tonifying the kidneys and tempering the pomelo's coldness; lime generates fluids and settles the stomach.
