Fresh Rice Paper (Spring) Rolls with Peanut Sauce

If you think making homemade rice paper rolls is something beyond your capability, think again!! Homemade spring rolls may not look perfect (with practice, they will!), they will still be delicious!

Did you ever dream that there could be a perfect dish for entertaining – one that’s light and refreshing, can be made ahead of time, your guests can actually get involved in the prep (just set it up and get them to make their own dinner!), is low in calories (aka healthy) and is a dish that you don’t have to turn your oven on for?!!

Do you think that’s possible?  Well, these wraps are the perfect solution to your dinner party woes.

You couldn’t ask for a more perfect starter!  Sure they can be a bit tricky to get the hang of, but just figure the first one is your treat!  Once you get rolling (literally!), it’s a piece of cake!

Now, before we get knee-deep in fresh spring roll production, let’s talk about the health benefits of these spring roll wraps. Picture this: crunchy, vibrant veggies nestled alongside protein-packed tuna, all wrapped up in a delicate rice paper package. It’s like a superhero team-up of nutritional goodness, with each ingredient bringing its own special powers to the table. From the vitamins and minerals in the veggies to the omega-3 fatty acids in the tuna, these wraps are a powerhouse of health benefits disguised as a masterpiece.

Here are the Nutritional Benefits of Rice Paper Rolls:

• low in calories (about 100)
• with these veggies, each roll is full of the daily requirements of vitamins and minerals
• using rice paper wraps, they are naturally gluten free
• they are filling but not heavy

And let’s not forget about the rolling process – oh, the rolling process. It’s like trying to wrap a present with a piece of wet tissue paper, except the present is a deliciously healthy snack and the tissue paper is, well, a rice paper wrapper. As you clumsily stuff your fillings into the center and tuck and roll without causing a catastrophic tear, you can’t help but be a bit frustrated. But fear not because practice makes perfect, and even the wonkiest spring rolls taste delicious in the end.

Now, let’s talk about the versatility of these wraps. With a cast of characters like crunchy veggies and protein-packed tuna, the flavor possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Feeling adventurous? Throw in some sliced avocado and a drizzle of spicy mayo for a kick of heat. Craving something zesty? Add a squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of cilantro for a burst of fresh flavor. These wraps can adapt to any flavor profile with ease.

But here’s the best part – these wraps are a way to get your daily dose of veggies and protein without feeling like you’re sacrificing flavour. They’re perfect for entertaining – gather your friends, set up a spring roll assembly line, and deliciousness ensue.

What You’ll Need for These Rice Paper Rolls:

• Rolls:

  Peanut sauce:

The Secret to Making Perfect Rice Paper Rolls:

If you’ve ever watched someone who is adept at making these rolls prepare them ever so quickly, you probably think the hard part is handling the rice paper wrappers. Well, you’re right! In order to handle the rice paper and ensure the filling doesn’t escape, you need to make sure the wrapper is pliable enough but not too much! The trick to all of this is making sure you soak the rice paper “just enough”…not too much where the wrapper will rip while trying to secure the filling, but enough to make it pliable and able to roll it. If it seems a wee bit hard, it will soften as it sits (the moisture from the filling will soften the wrapper!!)

Fresh Spring Rice Paper Rolls

These fresh vegetable and tuna spring roll wraps are the unsung heroes of healthy eating – nutritious, versatile, and fun to make. So, the next time you're craving a snack that's nutritious, grab your veggies, your tuna and get rolling. Your taste buds will thank you!

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Prep Time 1 hour hr

Course Side Dish

Cuisine THAI

Servings 8

Ingredients

  

Rolls:

• 1 medium piece sushi grade tuna (*try to get it at your local fish monger) can sub in other proteins
• 1 cup julliened carrots
• 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 head romaine
• 1 medium red pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 medium yellow pepper, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 pkg rice paper

Peanut sauce:

• 1 cup peanut butter (smooth works best but you can use either)
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• 1 small limes, juiced
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

 

• For the rolls, prep all of your ingredients…like an assembly line!!
• Season your tuna with salt and pepper and sear in a hot skillet (on both sides) until browned but not cooked through – the middle should be pink! Slice thinly and set aside.
• Fill a flat, shallow bowl with hot water (close to boiling) and set aside.
• Place one rice paper wrapper into the hot water and swish it around for up to 30 seconds (the paper should be soft and piable but not mushy)
• Remove it and place on a cutting board or clean counter-top. Place a bit of each ingredient (be careful not to overload) in the middle of the wrapper. roll once from the top to cover the ingredients, tuck in the sides, then roll to completely enclose; set aside
• Continue with the remaining ingredients and place all rolls on a platter (cover with plastic wrap)
• For the peanut sauce, place all ingredients in a blender, serve with rolls (save remaining sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a month)

Notes

1. You can sub in shredded chicken, tofu or cooked shrimp for the tuna.
2. If the peanut sauce is too thick, add a touch of hot water to think it out!