SUMMER ROLLS

With this Summer Rolls recipe, you can transform a simple appetizer or supper into a fun family activity. It's a blast to create and even better to eat! With store-bought rice paper wrappers, your preferred vegetables, and an irresistible dipping sauce, you can easily prepare this Vietnamese restaurant favorite at home.

These delectable rolls are as healthy as they are delicious since they are filled with a tonne of fresh vegetables like cabbage, peppers, and fresh herbs. Pick one of the four fillings—herby carrot, mango avocado, sweet basil, or crisp cabbage—or try them all.

This simple appetizer is vegetarian, but you may adjust the filling by adding cooked shrimp, ground pig, or chicken. Alternatively, you could use matchstick-sized pieces of baked tofu to make this dish vegan (simply replace the honey in the dipping sauce with agave). A genuinely rockin' homemade summer roll should contain something leafy and green, something sharp and aromatic, a little (or a lot!) of crunch, and plenty of fresh herbs. Feel free to mix and match the filling based on what you enjoy. Additionally, a mouthwatering dipping sauce keeps you going back for more.

These refreshing nibbles are simple, flexible, and healthy — but don't count on them lasting long.

Yields:16 serving(s)

Total Time:30 mins

INGREDIENTS

FOR DIPPING SAUCE:

• 1/4 c. lime juice

• 2 tbsp. mirin

• 2 tbsp. honey

• 1 to 2 tsp chili garlic sauce

FOR ROLLS:

• 1 8- to 10-ounce package of rice noodles

• 16 rice paper wrappers

CRUNCHY CABBAGE FILLING

• Purple cabbage

• Yellow pepper

• Scallion

• Mint

SWEET BASIL FILLING

• Watermelon

• Cucumber

• Basil

MANGO AVACADO FILLING

• Baby spinach

• Mango

• Avocado

• Sesame seeds

HERBY CARROT FILLING

• Carrot

• Red pepper

• Scallion

• Cilantro

DIRECTIONS

MAKE DIPPING SAUCE:

STEP 1

Mix the lime juice, mirin, honey, and chili garlic sauce in a small bowl. For serving, set aside.

MAKE ROLLS:

STEP 1

Follow the instructions on the rice noodle package to cook them, then make any or all of the filling choices.

STEP 2

Put warm water on a pie plate or a big basin before assembling the rolls. Working quickly, immerse 1 rice paper wrapper at a time in warm water for about 20 seconds or until pliable.

STEP 3

Place on a cutting board, then place some rice noodles and a serving of each filling component in the middle. Seal by tucking the wrapper's sides in. Fold base over filling starting at the bottom and roll up to seal, taking care not to break the wrapping. To completely enclose the filling, keep rolling. Repeat with the remaining fillings and wrappers.

HOW DP YOU ASSEMBLE A SUMMER ROLL?

It takes practice to wrap a beautiful summer roll, but our streamlined method makes it simpler. Here is how to accomplish it: Start by briefly soaking your rice paper in warm water to make it malleable. It should be placed on a work surface with some filler placed in the middle. Prior to folding in the bottom, long sides, and rolling to close, fold the two shorter sides of the rice paper over the filling. See? You are skilled!

WHAT DO YOU SERVE WITH A SUMMER ROLL?

It's (possibly) the law that a summer roll must always be served with dipping sauce. Ours is a wonderful, zesty dunker that enlivens the crunchy vegetable appetizer. It combines tangy lime juice with mildly sweet mirin and chili garlic sauce. Additionally, you may add leftover sauce to stir-fried vegetables and rice, combine it with noodles, or use it to enhance the flavor of soup or broth.

A dish of vibrant, neatly wrapped rolls and a bowl of dipping sauce are excellent ways to start a party or a straightforward weeknight meal. Ready to rock and roll (this summer)?