Spring Rolls

5 from 6 votes

Posted: 03/29/20 Updated: 07/29/22

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If you are looking for a quick, healthy dinner recipe then you need these Fresh Spring Rolls! They are so good dunked in our homemade Thai Peanut Sauce just like you get in a restaurant, but made at home. Perfect for a lunch, dinner or appetizer recipe. So much flavor from the shrimp, carrots, purple cabbage, cucumber, and fresh herbs.

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Spring Rolls are a quick and healthy dinner and you don’t need a take-out menu to get a batch! Did you know they are actually really easy to make at home? Yep, fresh and flavorful Spring Rolls loaded with colorful veggies, shrimp and rice noodles are so easy you’ll skip the take-out.

I’m showing you how to assemble and roll them, just like your favorite restaurant version, and sharing a delicious peanut dipping sauce to go with them. Sounds so good, right?

I’m thinking a plate of these delicious rolls with a glass of watermelon mint lemonade or mojito, plus your favorite people to share it all with sounds like the best Friday night! So, let’s make some Spring Rolls!

Contents show

Ingredients Needed for Spring Rolls

Spring rolls are made with rice wrappers which are very thin wrappers made with rice, water, and salt. Before you use them they need to be softened which is done by soaking them in warm water.

They can be kept completely vegetarian, or you can choose to add in lean protein. This would include shrimp, cooked pork that has been sliced thin, cooked chicken breast, or even tofu.

You will also need a variety of fillings. Part of the fun of making Spring Rolls is combining all of the colorful ingredients – They look so pretty wrapped up in the translucent wrapper. Recipes vary, but my favorite fillings to include are:

Vermicelli or rice noodles
Large cooked shrimp
Shredded carrot
Shredded purple cabbage
Cucumber cut into matchsticks
Thai basil
Mint leaves
Cilantro
Lettuce leaves

You can also add in a variety of vegetables including, but not limited to bell peppers (especially red or yellow), bean sprouts, sliced green onions, or jalapeños.

It’s a good idea to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go. Once you’ve softened the wrappers you need to work quickly to assemble the rolls.

How to Assemble the Rolls

Lay a softened wrapper on a wet paper towel. This will help keep the wrappers damp as you fill and roll them.
I like to start with the shrimp first. That way, once you’ve finished the roll, you can see them through the wrapper. So lay three shrimp in a single layer in the center of the wrapper.
Top the shrimp with the rest of the fillings (I start with the noodles and layer the rest on top) finishing with a lettuce leaves.
Fold the sides of the wrappers in and then, starting on one side, roll up the wrapper. As you roll, use the wrapper to pull the fillings in but don’t pull to hard otherwise the wrapper might tear. When you are done the ends should be tucked inside the roll so the fillings don’t fall out.

It takes a little practice, so don’t worry if your rolls aren’t perfect! They will still be delicious. Place the rolls in a single layer on a wet paper towel until you’re ready to serve them. If you stack them on top of each other they have a tendency to stick.

Why is my rice paper tearing when I roll it up?

Rolling up a spring roll takes practice, but don’t get discouraged. You will get the hang of it in no time. If you are having problems with your rice paper tearing as you roll it up, try these tips:

Don’t soak the rice wrapper. It needs to be fully submerged in water and pulled out immediately. The longer it sits, the softer it will become.
Work quickly once you wet the rice wrapper. Have everything ready to go once you lay the rice wrapper down and immediately start assembling.
You might be overfilling your roll. Try not to overload it with your ingredients. The roll should be about 3 inches thick. If you notice that your shrimp is too thick, feel free to cut it in half lengthwise. Pile your ingredients on top of each other. You don’t the ingredients to be much wider than the shrimp on the bottom of the pile.
Wrap the lettuce around the other ingredients like a blanket (except for the shrimp on the bottom. You want to be able to see that from the outside of the wrapper). This will help keep a smoother area for the wrapper so that nothing will poke through, causing a tear.
Work on a damp paper towel. The rice paper will stick on to anything once it’s wet, including your workspace. The damp paper towel will prevent sticking and aids in the rolling process. I like to re-dampen the same paper towel after rolling each spring roll.

Don’t Forget the Peanut Dipping Sauce!

You are going to want to make this savory peanut dipping sauce to go with your Spring Rolls!

Combine peanut butter, chopped peanuts, hoisin sauce, lime juice and water in a small bowl.
Warm the sauce in the microwave in 15 minutes increments, sitting between each, until the mixture is warmed through.
If your sauce is thick you can add a few tablespoons of water to thin it while you’re warming it up.

Serve with the beautiful Spring Rolls you made! It’s so good!

Can I make spring rolls ahead?

You can but not too far ahead. If you’re making them for a party, you can assemble them up to an hour ahead. Keep them covered with a cool, damp kitchen towel and they will hold up well. I wouldn’t make them any further ahead than that because they just won’t be as good!

How do you store the leftovers?

I think these are best when you make them, but if you have some leftover you can keep them in the refrigerator for one to two days. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and then keep them in an airtight container.

Let them sit out at room temperature for 20 or 30 minutes before you serve them. The wrappers have a tendency to dry out or develop a rubbery texture so they won’t be as good as the day you made them, but they will still taste good.

These Spring Rolls just scream summer to me – they are so fresh and a perfect light dinner or a fun appetizer!

More Fresh and Fast Recipes!

Looking for more healthy and quick recipes? You have to give some of these a try, too!

Gazpacho is a chilled soup that is perfect for summer! If you have a garden with ripe tomatoes this is the perfect, healthy recipe to use them in. It’s so flavorful with fresh vegetables like tomatoes, red onion, cucumbers, jalapeno, bell peppers and more!
Chicken pineapple kebabs are quick and easy marinated skewers that are the perfect combination of sweet and tangy!
Plump, juicy tomatoes stuffed with chicken salad is the perfect light, healthy, low carb recipe for summer!
Shrimp Pasta Salad has fresh veggies and a creamy dressing. It’s a great salad for potlucks and parties!

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Meet Julie Evink

I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!