Crackle Crêpes with Shrimp

Notes: Rice flour (finely ground rice) gives the crêpes their interesting texture, which varies according to how finely the grain is ground. Most rice flours from Asia are as silky as baby powder; they produce a very thin, crisp crêpe. Slightly coarser, grittier flours make thicker pancakes. Don't use sweet or glutinous rice flour. Look for rice flour in natural-food stores and in Asian or Latino food markets. If using Asian rice flour, use 2 tablespoons less water in step 1. To serve crêpes Vietnamese style, arrange a few leaves of red leaf lettuce and some mint sprigs alongside; cut off chunks of the crêpe, place in a piece of lettuce, add a few mint leaves and a spoonful of seasoned fish sauce, and wrap in the lettuce to eat. Serve with hot cooked rice and a light soup for supper.

Yield: Makes 3 main-dish servings

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  rice flour (see notes)
• 1/4  cup  cornstarch
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground dried turmeric
• 1/4  cup  canned coconut milk
• 2  tablespoons  thinly sliced green onion, including tops
• 1  tablespoon  salad oil
• 1/2  pound  bean sprouts (1 quart), rinsed and crisped
• 6  ounces  shelled cooked tiny shrimp, rinsed and drained
• Seasoned fish sauce

Preparation

1. In a bowl, mix rice flour, cornstarch, and turmeric. Add 1 cup water (see notes) and the coconut milk, and whisk to blend. Stir in green onion.

2. Set a 12-inch nonstick frying pan (about 10 inches across bottom) over high heat. When pan is hot, add 1 teaspoon oil and tilt to coat bottom.

3. Stir rice flour batter to blend. Pour 1/2 cup batter into pan all at once and tilt pan to cover entire bottom evenly.

4. Distribute 1/3 of the bean sprouts and 1/3 of the shrimp evenly over half the crepe. Cook, uncovered, until crepe is browned and crisp on the bottom, 7 to 10 minutes. Fold plain side over filled side, then slide crepe onto an ovenproof plate. Keep warm in a 200° regular or convection oven up to 25 minutes. Repeat to cook 2 more crepes. Add seasoned fish sauce to taste

Nutritional Information

Calories:

296 (29% from fat)

Protein:

16g

Fat:

9.7g (sat 4.4)

Carbohydrate:

36g

Fiber:

1.7g

Sodium:

136mg

Cholesterol:

111mg