As the weather starts to warm up, our taste buds begin to crave lighter, fresher flavors. One dish that perfectly embodies the spirit of spring is the vegetable spring roll. These delicate, crunchy rolls are filled with a variety of colorful vegetables and served with a creamy, nutty peanut sauce.
In this article, we will explore the world of vegetable spring rolls, including their ingredients, preparation methods, and serving suggestions. Additionally, we will provide you with a simple recipe to make these delicious rolls at home, along with a tasty peanut sauce to dip them in.
Meanwhile, if you are looking for other sweet treats to enjoy during the spring season, consider checking out our recipes for lemon sandwich cookies with cream, which are perfect for a light and refreshing dessert.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This recipe for vegetable spring rolls is a great way to enjoy the flavors of spring in a healthy and delicious way. The rolls are filled with a variety of colorful vegetables, including butter lettuce, red cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers, which provide a good source of vitamins and minerals.
The peanut sauce is made with creamy peanut butter, rice vinegar, and honey, which gives it a rich and nutty flavor. One of the best things about this recipe is that it is very versatile and can be customized to suit your tastes. You can add or substitute different vegetables to the filling, and you can also adjust the amount of peanut sauce to your liking.
Recipe
Print
Fresh Vegetable Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce
- Total Time: 45 min
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
Fresh vegetable spring rolls with peanut sauce, perfect for a light and refreshing spring dinner
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rice vermicelli or maifun brown rice noodles (57 g)
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil (5 ml)
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt (1.25 g)
- 1 cup torn butter lettuce, ribs removed (80 g)
- 1 cup very thinly sliced red cabbage (90 g)
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks or sliced into strips with a julienne peeler (120 g)
- 2 Persian (mini) cucumbers or 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced or sliced into strips with a julienne peeler (100 g)
- 2 medium jalapeños, ribs and seeds removed, thinly sliced (60 g)
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions (15 g)
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro (15 g)
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh mint (15 g)
- 8 sheets rice paper (spring roll wrappers) (40 g)
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (120 g)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (30 ml)
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce (30 ml)
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (30 g)
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (15 ml)
- 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced (6 g)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons water, as needed (30–45 ml)
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the noodles just until al dente, according to package directions.
- Drain, rinse them under cool water, and return them to the pot.
- Off the heat, toss the noodles with the sesame oil and salt, and set aside.
- Fill a shallow pan with an inch of water and place a rice paper sheet in the water for about 20 seconds.
- Carefully lay the sheet flat on a towel and add a few pieces of the filling to the center of the sheet.
- Fold the lower edge of the sheet up over the filling, and then fold in the sides and roll up the sheet to form a tight cylinder.
- Repeat this process with the remaining ingredients.
- To make the peanut sauce, whisk together the peanut butter, rice vinegar, tamari, honey, sesame oil, and garlic in a small bowl.
- Whisk in 2 to 3 tablespoons water, as needed to make a super creamy but dip-able sauce.
- Serve the spring rolls with peanut sauce on the side.
Notes
- You can add or substitute different vegetables to the filling, such as sliced avocado or chopped peanuts.
- You can also adjust the amount of peanut sauce to your liking.
- The spring rolls can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
- They can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 40 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 177 calories
- Sugar: 7.1 g
- Sodium: 426.8 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.2 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
Ingredients and Substitutions
Base Components
The base components of this recipe include rice vermicelli or maifun brown rice noodles, toasted sesame oil, and fine sea salt. These ingredients provide the foundation for the dish and give it a unique flavor and texture. The rice noodles are cooked according to the package directions and then tossed with sesame oil and salt. If you are looking for a gluten-free alternative, you can substitute the rice noodles with gluten-free noodles or use zucchini noodles as a low-carb option.
Sauce and Seasonings
The sauce and seasonings used in this recipe include creamy peanut butter, rice vinegar, tamari, honey, and garlic. These ingredients give the peanut sauce its rich and nutty flavor. If you are looking for a substitute for peanut butter, you can use almond butter or cashew butter. Additionally, if you are looking for a vegan alternative to honey, you can use maple syrup.
How to Make the Spring Rolls
Step 1: Prepare the Filling
To make the spring rolls, start by preparing the filling. This includes tearing the butter lettuce into small pieces, slicing the red cabbage into thin strips, peeling and cutting the carrots into matchsticks, and slicing the cucumbers into thin strips. You can also add other vegetables to the filling, such as sliced bell peppers or chopped mushrooms.
Step 2: Assemble the Spring Rolls
Once the filling is prepared, you can start assembling the spring rolls. To do this, fill a shallow pan with an inch of water and place a rice paper sheet in the water for about 20 seconds.
Then, carefully lay the sheet flat on a towel and add a few pieces of the filling to the center of the sheet. Fold the lower edge of the sheet up over the filling, and then fold in the sides and roll up the sheet to form a tight cylinder. Repeat this process with the remaining ingredients.
Pro Tips for Success
To ensure that your spring rolls turn out perfectly, there are a few tips to keep in mind. First, make sure to handle the rice paper sheets gently, as they can tear easily. Second, don’t overfill the spring rolls, as this can cause them to burst open when you roll them up.
Finally, make sure to serve the spring rolls immediately, as they can become soggy if they sit out for too long. If you are looking for other delicious dessert options to serve at your next party, consider checking out our recipe for lemon curd sandwich cookies, which are sure to be a hit with your guests.
Flavor Variations
One of the best things about this recipe is that it is very versatile and can be customized to suit your tastes. You can add or substitute different vegetables to the filling, and you can also adjust the amount of peanut sauce to your liking.
Some other flavor variations you might consider include adding sliced avocado or chopped peanuts to the filling, or using different types of nut butter, such as almond butter or cashew butter, to make the peanut sauce.
Serving Suggestions
The spring rolls can be served as a light and refreshing appetizer or as a healthy and delicious main course. They are perfect for a spring dinner party or a summer picnic. You can serve them whole, or sliced in half on the diagonal with a sharp chef’s knife.
Additionally, you can serve them with a variety of dipping sauces, such as soy sauce or chili sauce. If you are looking for other delicious and easy-to-make party food options, consider checking out our recipe for lemon gooey butter cookies, which are perfect for a crowd.
Storage and Freezing Instructions
The spring rolls can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months. To freeze, place the spring rolls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put them in the freezer until they are frozen solid. Then, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag for storage. To thaw, simply leave them in room temperature for a few hours or thaw them in the refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition Facts per Serving
| Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein | Fiber | Sugar | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 177 calories | 8 g | 13.2 g | 3.5 g | 1.5 g | 7.1 g | 426.8 mg |
FAQs About Vegetable Spring Rolls
What are vegetable spring rolls?
Vegetable spring rolls are a type of dish that originated in Asia and is typically filled with a variety of vegetables and sometimes meat or seafood. They are usually served as an appetizer or main course and are often accompanied by a dipping sauce.
How do I make vegetable spring rolls?
To make vegetable spring rolls, you will need to prepare the filling, which typically includes a variety of vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers. You will then need to assemble the spring rolls by filling rice paper sheets with the filling and rolling them up. Finally, you can serve the spring rolls with a dipping sauce of your choice.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, vegetable spring rolls are a delicious and healthy dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer or main course. They are perfect for a spring dinner party or a summer picnic and can be customized to suit your tastes. With this simple recipe and a few pro tips, you can make perfect vegetable spring rolls at home and enjoy them with your friends and family.
