Rau Sống

Name: Rau Sống
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 1 head green leaf lettuce, trimmed; 1 cup fresh spearmint, picked; 1 cup fresh Thai basil, picked; 1 cup fresh perilla leaves, picked; 2 Persian cucumber, thinly sliced; 2 cups fresh bean sprouts, rinsed

A crisp and aromatic platter of fresh herbs, leafy greens, cucumber, and bean sprouts served as a side for wrapping or topping traditional Vietnamese dishes.

15 minEasyServes 425 cal/serving

VietnameseSideNo-CookVeganVegetarianPescatarianMediterraneanWhole30Low CarbKetoPaleoDASHHalal-friendlyKosher-styleGluten-FreeNut-FreeDairy-FreeSoy-FreeEgg-FreeShellfish-FreeSesame-FreeLow-SodiumLow-SugarPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeNightshade-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

1 head green leaf lettuce, trimmed
1 cup fresh spearmint, picked
1 cup fresh Thai basil, picked
1 cup fresh perilla leaves, picked
2 Persian cucumber, thinly sliced
2 cups fresh bean sprouts, rinsed

Instructions

1

Submerge 1 head trimmed green leaf lettuce, 1 cup picked fresh spearmint, 1 cup picked fresh Thai basil, and 1 cup picked fresh perilla leaves in cold water, then spin or pat completely dry.
2

Arrange 1 head trimmed green leaf lettuce across a large serving platter to form a clean base layer.
3

Scatter 1 cup picked fresh spearmint, 1 cup picked fresh Thai basil, and 1 cup picked fresh perilla leaves evenly across the greens.
4

Mound 2 cups rinsed fresh bean sprouts and lay 2 thinly sliced Persian cucumber alongside the herbs before serving chilled.

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Questions

Why pat it dry first in Rau Sống?

Surface water has to boil off before anything can brown. Drying at step 1 means the food sears in the first minute instead of steaming.

What can I use instead of Thai basil in Rau Sống?

The entry for Rau Sống calls for 1 cup fresh Thai basil, picked. In its place: Italian basil with a few mint leaves comes close. Add it off the heat.

Is Rau Sống low-carb?

A serving of Rau Sống carries 4 g of carbohydrate, 2 g of it fiber. Against a strict 20 g keto day that is 20 percent of the budget; against a moderate 100 g low-carb day it is 4 percent.

How many carbs are in Rau Sống?

One serving (the recipe makes 4) has 4 g of carbohydrate in about 25 calories, with 2 g protein and 0 g fat, plus 2 g fiber and 15 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

How long does Rau Sống keep?

Refrigerate what is left of Rau Sống within two hours and eat it within three days. Reheat uncovered in a 400 F oven (or an air fryer) for a few minutes to bring the crust back; the microwave softens it. Leafy parts wilt first; store them apart if you can.

Serve it with

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