Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls

makes 10 spring rolls

 Ingredients for wrap and sauces

• 10 to 12 rice paper (8 to 8.5 inch in diameter)
• 5 oz rice vermicelli noodles
• 30 -40 large shrimp or meat and avocado (substitute for vegans: firm tofu)
• 1 carrot 1 radish for pickled radish (optional - directions below)

For Vegetable Options:

• 1 head of lettuce
• 1 bundle cilantro
• 1 carrot, julienne or shredded
• 1 cucumber, julienne or thinly sliced
• 1 C sliced cabbage red or white
• 1-2 sliced avocados
• 1 medium thinly sliced granny smith apple
• 1 C bean sprouts
• 1/4 or 1/2 sliced red onion

Herbs: quantity as desired

• garlic chives
• Thai basil 
• mint 
• chopped roasted peanuts for garnish

Marinated Meat (Optional)

1 lb. of meat (grounded pork, thin sliced pork or beef)

1 tbsp ground lemongrass (substitute lemon zest or lemon juice)

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp soy sauce

1/2 tbsp fish sauce

1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 teaspoon each minced garlic and ginger

1/4-1/2 teaspoon pepper

For pickled radish

Julienne cut your radish and carrot then wash 3 times with cold water.

In a bowl, mix well 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup vinegar and 2 cups water and

pour it over the radish and carrot.

For hoisin peanut dipping sauce

• 1 tbsp cooking oil (avocado, olive or any kind) and 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 4 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 2 tbsp creamy peanut butter
• 4 tbsp water
• 1/2 tbs or more honey or sugar
• 1/2 tbsp or more fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp chopped roasted peanuts for garnish
• Optional: 1 splash of fish sauce, 1 clove minced garlic, chili paste or sriracha 

Directions: In a pan heat the oil and sauteed garlic till fragrant then add all other ingredients and boil for 1 min on medium low heat. Set aside to cool and serve.

For Fish Sauce Dip:

6 tbsp water

4 tbsp sugar

4 tbsp fish sauce

add some minced garlic and red pepper

add 1 or 2 tablespoons of lime if you desire

Directions: mix all ingredients well

Before you begin make sure to: 

1. Marinate the meat at least 1hr in advance. 

2. Put the sauce together 

3. Pickle the radish 

4. Cook noodles as instructed on the product packaging. These are the brand that I use.

        

Instructions for wrapping

Organize all your fresh ingredients on a plate for ease in building your spring roll

Fill a large bowl with water, dip 1 rice paper all the way through and place wet rice paper onto a flat surface (I like to use cutting boards or on an individual plate for building your own)

It's easiest to lay a leaf of lettuce down and then build the rest on top of the lettuce leaf such as the meat and vegetables you like including fresh herbs or your choice.  

                                                 

Once you've stacked all the ingredients you want in the rice paper, start wrapping by folding the rice paper over the ingredients from the bottom to secure the stack then while holding that in place fold in the sides of rice paper and then tightly roll all the way up to finish the wrap.

                                       

you can cut it in half like a wrap, eat it whole or cut into bite size pieces like a sushi roll to serve  

 

Serve spring rolls with the fish sauce and hoisin sauce mixtures.

Enjoy it!