Dried Shrimp and Pickled Lettuce Salad
adapted from Thai Cooking from The Siam Cuisine Restaurant by Kwanruan Aksomboon, Somchai Aksomboom, and Diana Hiranga.
Prep time: soaking dried shrimp takes 20 minutes; remaining prep is a matter of stirring ingredients together.
Serves 4 as a side dish or 2 with leftovers
20 large dried shrimp (approximately 2 ounces, or 1/4 cup)
5 ounces pickled lettuce from a jar, with some of the brine
1/2 to 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and julienned
1 large clove garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1-3 fresh Thai chili peppers, seeded or not, to taste, minced
fresh lime juice, to taste
white or palm sugar, to taste
Jasmine rice, for serving
Instructions
Place the shrimp in a heat-proof bowl. Heat one cup of water in the microwave for one minute. Pour water over the shrimp to rehydrate. Allow shrimp to soak for at least 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, empty five ounces of pickled lettuce into a medium bowl with some of the brine. The original recipe called for five ounces of brine; I prefer a less liquid salad. Taste and see what you like.
Add the ginger, garlic, and chili pepper(s) to the pickled lettuce.
Drain the shrimp and discard the soaking water. Add drained shrimp to salad bowl.
Taste; add lime juice to taste. Add sugar if wished; there is sugar in the brine and I find the salad sweet enough as is.
Taste again and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Serve Dried Shrimp and Pickled Lettuce Salad with rice for breakfast, lunch, or as part of a Southeast Asian meal.
Salad keeps, refrigerated in a covered container, three days. Do not freeze.
Notes:
Thai food is about balancing hot, sour, salty, and sweet flavors. Your ideal balance may require adjusting amounts of garlic, ginger, pepper, lime, and sugar accordingly.
Pickled lettuce is sold in a variety of jar sizes; this salad calls for about 5 ounces. If you have leftovers, refrigerate and use within three weeks, either in this salad or a stir-fry.
Dried shrimp is available in small, medium, and extra-large sizes. Ideally you want the extra-large size here. If you are unable to find it, use the largest dried shrimp you can find.