Look no further than these Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls for a super fresh, and fun appetizer. You will learn a few tricks to easily roll veggies, herbs, boiled shrimp, and vermicelli noodles in delicate rice paper.
Fill a large shallow pan or dish with 1-2 inches of warm water. You’ll want the dish to be large enough to fit a piece of rice paper into it with a little wiggle room around the sides.
Dip one piece of rice paper into the warm water and let soak for 5 seconds. And not a second longer! The paper will still fill a bit firm when you pull it out but it will continue to soften while you add your filling ingredients.
12 rice papers
Remove the paper from the water and place it on a plastic cutting board.
Making Spring Rolls:
Add a tablespoon of cilantro, a few basil leaves, 2-3 shrimp, ¼ cup vermicelli noodles, 2-3 strips of cucumber, 1-2 Tbsp. carrots, and 1-2 tbsp. shredded cabbage to the middle of the rice paper. Place just enough of these ingredients into the roll without overfilling it. If you have too many ingredients you'll have a difficult time rolling it up.
Fold over the bottom edge of the rice paper that is closest to you to cover up the ingredients.
Fold the right side of the paper over. And then fold the left side over. It should look like an opened envelope at this point. This is a little easier if you hold the paper with both hands. If it crinkles up a little bit, it's totally okay! Just keep going.
Roll the rice paper and ingredients like a burrito beginning from the side that is closest to you until it makes a tight spring roll. Repeat with the remaining filling ingredients and rice paper until you have 12 spring rolls.
Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce:
Add all ingredients, except for the water, to a medium-sized bowl.
½ cup peanut butter, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 clove garlic crushed
Whisk until well smooth and well combined.
½-1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
Slowly add in warm water 1 tablespoon at a time to help thin it out. 3-6 tablespoons of water should get it to be a good dipping consistency.
3-6 tablespoons warm water
Video
Notes
Shrimp: Fresh, boiled shrimp is best.
Herbs: Fresh cilantro and basil are key!
Sauce: Creamy peanut butter gives the best consistency. Add enough water to your tastes