Vietnam - Frogs Legs in Garlic Sauce

Frogs Legs in Garlic Sauce

Yield: 4 Servings

Ingredients

-       4 Pairs jumbo frogs' legs, -trimmed -about 1 pound

-       1 Stalk fresh lemon grass soaked for 1 hour in warm water -- finely chopped or 1 TB dried lemon grass

-       2 fresh red chili peppers -- sliced

-       2 green onions -- sliced

-       2 Cloves garlic -- crushed

-       1 1/2 ts sugar

-       salt

-       2 TB Nuoc Mam sauce

-       OR

-       2 TB Maggi seasoning and 1 garlic clove -- crushed

-       2 oz bean thread vermicelli

-       2 TB vegetable oil

-       1 sm onion -- chopped

-       1 c chicken strock or water

-       1/2 c coconut cream or heavy cream

-       3 TB cornstarch mixed with a little water

-       freshly ground black pepper

-       cilantro sprigs -- for garnish

Directions

-       Chop the grogs' legs into bite-sized pieces and rinse with cold water to get rid of any pieces of bone.

-       Pat dry and put in the refrigerator.

-       Combine the lemon grass, chilies, green onion, garlic, sugar, salt, and 1 tablespoon Nuoc mam sauce in a blender or food processor until a very fine paste results.

-       Rub the paste over the frogs' legs, cover and refrigerate again for 30 minutes.

-       Soak the vermicelli in warm wate for 30 minutes.

-       Drain and cut into 2 inch lengths.

-       Heat the oil in a wok over moderate heat.

-       Add the onion and saute until soft, then add the frogs' legs and brown well, turning them over from time to time.

-       This should take 3 minutes.

-       Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil.

-       Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

-       Uncover the wok and add the coconut cream.

-       Add the cornstarch and the remainng Nuoc Mam sauce.

-       Stir as the sauce thickens and cook for another 15 minutes.

-       Add the vermicelli and bring to a boil.

-       Remove from the heat.

-       Sprinkle with black pepper and garnish with cilantro sprigs.

-       Serve immediately with rice or French bread or rice noodles.

It is advisable to offfer an alternative to frogs; legs since there are a few cynics who do not believe that frogs' legs taste very much like chicken. (why do they say that everything unusual 'tastes like chicken'?)