Vietnamese Fresh Handheld Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Shanthi Appelo, MS, RD

| 1 min read

Spring rolls with sauce
Summer is wrapping up its heat for the year, but before fall soups hit the table this recipe is a must-try.
Though traditional fried spring rolls in a sweet and sour sauce serve up a delicious once-in-a-while treat, these fresh and nutrient-packed Vietnamese spring rolls are perfect for a healthy appetizer or part of a meal. Paired with a creamy peanut sauce, ingredients like soy sauce and ginger bring complexity to the dish.
The rice paper serves as a lower-calorie vehicle for fresh veggies when compared to a fried spring roll wrapper. The shrimp and peanut butter make this dish protein-rich while vegetables pack in fiber, folate and vitamins C and K.
Watch this quick video for a tutorial on rolling your spring rolls and scroll down for recipes:
Serving Amount
Ingredients
  • 16 oz. large cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

  • Rice paper

  • A bunch of spring lettuce mix or other lettuce type such as romaine or butter lettuce

  • 1 bell pepper, cut into strips/spears

  • 1 cucumber, cut into strips/spears

  • 2 sprigs cilantro

  • 1 onion (red sliced thin or green in spears)

  • 1 avocado, cut to thin slices

  • Other optional ingredients: mango, shredded carrots, imitation crab sticks, rice noodles

  • 2 Tbsp. peanut butter

  • 1 Tbsp. low sodium soy sauce

  • 2 Tbsp. warm water

  • 2 cloves minced garlic

  • 1 Tbsp. lime juice

  • 2 tsp. ginger, fresh, minced

  • 1 tsp. sesame or canola oil

  • Optional toppings: crushed peanuts and red pepper flakes

Instructions
  • Step 1

    Spring Rolls

  • Step 2

    Soak rice paper in warm water for 5-10 seconds. Soaking it for too short of time will make the paper crack while soaking it for too long will make the paper mushy and break.

  • Step 3

    Apply ingredients on two opposite sides of the rice paper, folding at the top over the first bunch of ingredients, then fold in on both sides and continue rolling.

  • Step 4

    Peanut Sauce

  • Step 5

    Combine all ingredients with a blender and serve.

About the author: Shanthi Appelo is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Shanthi Appelo
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Photo credit: Shanthi Appelo

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