Summer Series: Rainbow Summer Rolls
When I think summer, I think summer rolls! These are a typical appetizer found in most Vietnamese (and even some Thai) restaurants here in the U.S. and are one of my favorite appetizers of all time. They traditionally come with shrimp and pork, but you can usually ask to swap out the meat for crispy fried tofu or just plain veggies.
Far healthier than their fried counterpart spring rolls, summer rolls are delicious to eat, delightful to look at, and fun and easy to make! In additional to the rolls themselves, I just can’t get enough of the peanut dipping sauce - perhaps the most important part of the whole dish. Even If I have some sauce left over after finishing the rolls, I always keep it on the table to incorporate into my subsequent main dish. It’s just that good.
I named them Rainbow Summer Rolls because June is PRIDE MONTH!! And we just got an amazing Supreme Court ruling yesterday! They ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act's prohibition on sex discrimination in employment also effectively banned bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity! :) Love is love, y’all. <3
Ingredients for the Rolls:
1/2 package rice noodles
8 rice paper wrappers
8 large leaves lettuce
1 large English cucumber, sliced into 4-inch sticks
2 carrots, sliced into thin sticks
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
2 cups fresh basil leaves (or more if you are a basil fanatic like I am)
1/4 purple/red cabbage, sliced (if desired)
Ingredients for the Sauce:
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 Tbsp water
3 Tbsp maple syrup
Instructions for the Rolls:
Cook rice noodles in accordance to package instructions, set aside.
Prepare a bowl of hot water (not too hot or you’ll burn your fingers… I learned this the hard way…), and dip one rice paper wrapper for about 20 sec until it is soft. Making sure it doesn’t tear or stick together, place wet wrapper on a tea towel.
Place a lettuce leaf, some rice noodles, a few sticks cucumber, carrot, bell pepper, basil, and cabbage (if using) into the middle of the wrapper.
Carefully and quickly, roll up like you would a burrito. This step is difficult and there is a huge learning curve… watch this helpful video if you are struggling!
Keep going until you depleat your ingredients!
Serve cold with peanut sauce and enjoy!
Instructions for the Sauce:
Simply whisk together all ingredients until a nice sauce is formed. If too thick, add a little more water. If too thin, add a little more peanut butter!
Enjoy!
