Fresh Vietnamese spring rolls
Fresh spring rolls are a healthy snack that can be filled with almost anything. I like a combination of raw vegetables, cooked seafood or meat and the texture of the very thin rice vermicelli, which only takes a few minutes to cook (see below). Wrap the finished spring rolls in cling film and pack some soy sauce too. Get the kids helping with assembly using the pics below as a guide.
Rolls
| 1 | Carrot, sliced into strips |
| 18 | Rice paper wrapper, round |
| ½ cup | Mint leaves, fresh |
| 1 cup | Prawn tail, cooked, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise; alternately use shrimp tails |
| 1 serving | Mixed lettuce leaves, enough for 9 rolls |
| 2 cups | Vermicelli, cooked |
| ½ cup | Snow pea sprouts, or bean sprouts |
| 1 | Red capsicum, sliced into strips |
| 1 | Spring onion, sliced into thin strips (optional) |
| ¼ cup | Fresh coriander |
Dipping sauce
| 3 tsp | Lime juice |
| 3 tsp | Sugar |
| 2 Tbsp | Fish sauce |
| 1 tsp | Garlic, Finely grated |
| ½ tsp | Red chillies, finely diced (optional) |
| 1 Tbsp | Water |
Directions
- Boil the carrot strips in salted water for 2 minutes, drain then plunge into iced water to stop them cooking. Drain well.
- Fill a large bowl with warm water, dip two rice papers at a time, very carefully, for about 30 seconds, until totally soft. Lay on a clean tea towel.
- Arrange three mint leaves in the centre of the rice paper, then three shrimps. Top with some pieces of lettuce, a small bundle of vermicelli, a pinch of snow pea shoots, strips of carrot and red capsicum, spring onion and coriander leaves.
- Leave about 4cm uncovered on each side. Fold the uncovered sides over and inward, then tightly roll the rice paper up. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- For the sauce, place all ingredients in a small dish and whisk. This will keep, well covered, in the fridge.
How to make vermicelli
Place vermicelli in a deep bowl, pour over boiling water until it is completely submerged. Every minute, give the noodles a stir to loosen them up. When they are completely limp, have a taste to see if they're cooked. Drain and run under cold water, drain well then gently toss through one teaspoon of sesame oil.
Roll 'em up step-by-step
