This restaurant favorite is far easier to make than I expected! It is a wonderful light lunch or appetizer. The fresh herbs (mint and cilantro - Thai basil is also an option) really give it that authentic Vietnamese flavor. These spring rolls are very versatile, so get creative and use your favorite fillings. There are also many dipping sauce options- peanut sauce, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, eel sauce and I am sure more.
For this recipe, I used imitation crab, avocado, cucumbers, carrots, and the fresh herbs- delicious! I loved the spring rolls dipped in a bit of sweet chili sauce, and my daughter chose eel sauce- which is her favorite on sushi. You can leave these vegetarian or add your favorite seafood such as crab or shrimp.
Fresh Spring Rolls:
For this recipe you will need rice paper wraps- this can be found at most grocery stores as well as online on Amazon. Many spring roll recipes also call for Vietnamese Rice Sick (Vermicelli). I did not use the noodles this time, but sure it would be a delicious add, and add a unique texture.
1. Prepare your ingredients for filling the rolls:
For any vegetables (carrots, cucumber, etc), you will want to peel them, and cut vertically into small strips so they roll well. For the carrots, I used a peeler to cut the strips and it worked great! The vegetables add great texture and flavor.
Avocado, cut into thin slices, similar to what you see on sushi.
Herbs- I used the leaves and stems of both the cilantro and mint.
Protein- optional- I shredded imitation crab to use in the rolls. Again, steamed shrimp would also be a great , as would tofu.
2. Prepare the rice paper wrap, fill and roll:
This is a very easy process! Just fill a large bowl with hot water and put a rice paper wrap into the bowl to hydrate for about 15 seconds, until pliable. Remove carefully from the water, lay on a cloth to remove any excess water, and then put the rice paper on a plate to fill with ingredients. They can tear and stick together pretty easily, so go slow and be gentle.
Add your favorite ingredients to the center of the hydrated round rice paper sheet. Similar to rolling a burrito, fold both ends towards the center, and then roll, keeping the ingredients firmly tucked into the roll.
Pick your favorite dipping sauce, and you are ready to enjoy!
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