Nem Cua Bể Recipe - NGON Vietnam

Nem Cua Bể

Crab Spring Rolls

A specialty from Hai Phong, these square crab spring rolls are packed with fresh crab meat, pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and vegetables, wrapped and fried until golden and crispy.

Other variations:

Nem cua bể vuông, Nem cua bể cuốn dài, Nem cua bể chiên giòn, Nem cua bể hấp

Region

Northern Vietnam

Preparation Time

1h10

Servings

4

Difficulty

Hard

About this recipe

Nem Cua Bể comes from the coastal city of Hai Phong. Its distinctive square shape and inclusion of fresh crab meat set it apart from other Vietnamese spring rolls, making it a celebrated dish during festivals and family gatherings.

Ingredients List

200 g fresh crab meat 100 g ground pork 100 g shrimp (peeled chopped) 20 g wood ear mushrooms (soaked, chopped) 30 g glass noodles (soaked, cut) 1 small carrot (grated) 50 g bean sprouts 2 shallots (minced) 1 clove garlic (minced) 1 egg 10–12 sheets rice paper 1 tbsp fish sauce 1/2 tsp ground pepper oil for frying

Materials & Tools

Mixing bowls knife and chopping board frying pan or deep fryer spider strainer absorbent paper towels

Preparation steps

Total Time :

1h10

Active Time :

1h10

Cooking Time

–

Make Filling

Mix crab meat, minced pork, shrimp, mushrooms, glass noodles, carrot, sprouts, shallots, garlic, egg, fish sauce, and pepper.

20 min

Prep Wrappers

Moisten rice paper sheets with a damp cloth until soft and pliable.

5 min

Wrap Rolls

Place filling in the center, fold into a neat square.

15 min

Fry Rolls

Heat oil in a pan, fry rolls over medium heat until golden on all sides.

15 min

Drain Rolls

Remove fried rolls, place on paper towels to absorb oil.

5 min

Make Sauce

Mix fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, lime juice, garlic, and chili into dipping sauce.

10 min

Serve

Serve hot with sauce and herbs.

5 min

Chef’s Tips

Use fresh crab for best flavor; keep oil at medium heat to ensure rolls cook through without burning.

Serving Suggestions

Fish sauce dipping sauce, fresh herbs, lettuce leaves

Nutritional info

300kcal
15g protein
18g fat
20g carbs

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