2tablespoonscrushed chilli flakes or 6-8 red finger-length chilliesdeseeded and ground
8clovesgarliccrushed with a little salt
4tablespoonsTim Cheong or Kecup manis
6large lettuce leaves
1small cucumberpeeled and finely shredded
100g2 cups beansprouts
1cake tau kwapressed tofu 100g(3 1/3 oz), deep-fried until golden, diced
2hard-boiled eggspeeled and chopped
2lap cheongsimmered 3 minutes, thinly sliced
Filling:
1 1/2tablespoonsoil
1small onionhalved, thinly sliced across
2clovesgarlicminced
4teaspoonstau cheosalted soy beans
lightly smashed 100 g3 1/3 oz pork loin,
very thinly sliced 100 g3 1/3 oz prawns, peeled, heads removed
250g8 oz boiled or canned bamboo shoot, finely shredded
1bangkuang(300g / 10 oz), finely shredded
1tablespoonsoy sauce
1/4teaspoonground pepper
Wrappers
125g1 cup plain flour
1/2teaspoonsalt
300ml1 1/4 cups water
5eggslightly beaten
2teaspoonsoil
Note: Tim cheongor sweet black Chinese sauce, is a fragrant sweet sauce used in many marinades and sauces; substitute kecup manis, a sweet soy sauce.
Instructions
To make the Wrappers, place the flour, salt and water in a bowl and mix to form a smooth batter.
Then add the eggs and mix well. Heat a 20-cm (8-in) skillet, add 1/2 teaspoon of the oil to grease the skillet. Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the batter and swirl the skillet to spread the batter in a thin layer.
Cook over moderate heat until the batter sets, about 30 seconds. Flip the batter and cook on the other side for a few seconds. Remove from the skillet, place on a serving plate and cover with a damp cloth. Repeat to make 10 Wrappers.
Heat the oil for the Filling in a wok or saucepan. Stir-fry the onion and garlic over low to moderate heat until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the tau cheo and stir-fry 1 minute. Increase the heat, add the pork and stir-fry until it changes colour, about 1 minute. Add the prawns and stir-fry 1 minute, then add the bamboo shoots, bangkuang, soy sauce and pepper.
Stir the mixture and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, until cooked through. Add 1 tablespoon of water if needed. Transfer the cooked mixture to a bowl and allow to cool.
To serve, transfer the Filling and Wrappers to the dining table. Place the chilli, garlic and sweet black sauce in small sauce bowls on the table. Arrange the lettuce leaves, cucumber, bean sprouts, tau kwa, boiled eggs and lap cheong on a large plate.
Smear one side of a Wrapper with chilli sauce, garlic paste and sweet black sauce.
Add half a lettuce leaf, some of the Filling, cucumber, bean sprouts, tau kwa, egg and lap cheong. Tuck in the sides of the Wrapper and roll it up. The Popiah can be sliced into 3-4 pieces if preferred.