Learn to cook Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls
Vietnamese cuisine widely influenced by the Asian cuisine is known to be healthy with its usage of multiple herbs, vegetables, seafood, rice among other meats etc. There are multiple kind of cooking methods like braising, pan frying, stir frying, stewing, roasting used for making the traditional dishes. Some of the common known dishes from the country include Noodle soups like Pho & Banh Canh; Canh Chua (a sour soup); variety of rice served with chicken, duck, pork or beef; Xoi (sticky rice cooked with coconut milk); Banh Xeo, Banh Beo, Rolls made with rice paper, Banh Mi Op La (Egg sandwich), Goi Dau Hu (Tofy Salad), Curries, Fermented vegetable & meat dishes and desserts such as Che and Sinh To. The cooking principles try to balance the Yin & Yang using the hot & cool properties of various food items.
For a Vietnamese taste today I made Rice paper rolls filled with vegetables. Its also possible to fill the rolls with shrimp, pork or chicken while the method remains very similar. These Rice Paper Rolls are extremely healthy with no usage of oil or fats and can be served as starters or with the main course. They can be made fairly quickly and go well with a peanut dip. Here is a simple step by step Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls Recipe. Enjoy the Asian taste from Vietnam.
Ingredients
For the rolls
- Rice paper – 10 to 12
- Cucumber – 1 (cut in thin julienne)
- Carrot – 1 (cut in thin julienne)
- Lettuce leaves – 5 to 6 (torn in small pieces)
- Mint leaves – 20 to 25
- Rice noodles – 1 cup
- Roasted peanuts – 1/4 cup (crushed)
For the peanut dip
- Peanut butter – 2 tbsp
- Hoisin sauce – 3 tbsp
- Water – 1/2 cup
- Lemon juice – 1 lemon
- Soy Sauce – 1 tbsp
- Chili garlic paste – 2 tsp
How to Make Rice Paper Rolls
For the peanut dip
- Blend all ingredients to make a smooth paste. Keep aside.
For the rolls
- Soak the rice noodles in warm water for about 10 minutes. Keep aside.
- Dip the rice paper in cold water for few seconds.
Soak Rice Paper in Cold Water
- Lay it on a clean surface
- Line it with cucumber, carrot, lettuce leaves, mint leaves, rice noodles and roasted peanuts.
Rice paper rolls – Lining the filling
- Fold the sheet carefully tucking the sides inside into a tight roll.
- Cut diagonally from the center
Rice paper rolls – fold and cut
- Repeat with all rice papers
- Serve with peanut dip
Rice Paper Roll — Ready to be served.
