Soak shrimp (still in shells) in salt water 5 minutes, then rinse well in a colander.
Ingredients you will need
Pasta Shells
Shrimp
Water
Salt
Equipment you will use
Colander
3
Pound all chiles with garlic to a coarse paste with a mortar and pestle and stir in fish sauce and lime juice and sugar to taste.
Ingredients you will need
Fish Sauce
Lime Juice
Chili Pepper
Garlic
Sugar
Equipment you will use
Mortar And Pestle
4
Transfer to a large bowl.
Equipment you will use
Bowl
5
Snip shells of shrimp with scissors down center of back, from wide end to second-to-last tail section. Butterfly shrimp in their shells, making a deep incision along length of back where shells are cut, and devein.
Ingredients you will need
Shrimp
Pasta Shells
Equipment you will use
Kitchen Scissors
6
Discard tough outer leaves of lemongrass and trim root ends. Thinly slice lower 6 inches of stalks.
Ingredients you will need
Lemon Grass
7
Grill shrimp on their sides on an oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals until shells are pink and slightly charred and shrimp are just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes on each side. (Alternatively, grill shrimp in a hot well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderate heat.)
Ingredients you will need
Pasta Shells
Shrimp
Equipment you will use
Grill Pan
Grill
8
Toss shrimp (with shells still on) with chile mixture and stir in sliced lemongrass, shallots, scallions, and mint.
Ingredients you will need
Lemon Grass
Green Onions
Shallot
Pasta Shells
Shrimp
Chili Pepper
Mint
9
Serve on a bed of lettuce and tomato with cilantro or mint.