Vietnamese Lettuce Wraps

If you are looking for a recipe using only what you already have in your fridge/pantry...this probably isn't the one.  But it's super yummy!  And yeah, I'm aware that the paper plates are SUPER high class...and the one picture shows what a free-for-all family dinner can be at our house, but we're among friends, right?

Vietnamese Lettuce Wraps

Thin cut pork, skewered and barbequed
Peanuts, crushed (dry roasted and unsalted)
Green Onion, sliced
Shredded Carrot
Large Leaf Lettuce (we have used a variety of kinds, it really depends on what is best in the season)
Rice Vermicelli Noodles (these I would buy at the health food store, because they are much cheaper than when (if) you can find them at the grocery store.)

Wrap carrot, onion, peanuts, noodles, and pork in lettuce and dip in sauce.

Dipping sauce/pork marinade

2 garlic cloves, cut into pieces...they are for flavor, but not for eating, so make them big enough that you won't accidentally dump a huge chunk of garlic in your wrap
3 T Sugar
2 T Lime or lemon juice
1 C. warm water
6 T fish sauce (buy at the health food store as well.  We use the Tiparos brand.)
1/2 tsp. ground red pepper (or red pepper flakes)
Add shredded carrot and green onion to taste
Combine and mix well.  Make sure all the sugar is dissolved.

You can marinade the pork in the dipping sauce before cooking, but it is not necessary.  (I usually do)

While this may seem like an odd recipe, my kids eat it like crazy.  They LOVE building their own, and believe it or not, they love the fish sauce, too.