Chef John's Fresh Spring Rolls

4.9
(18)

I love the 'authentic' spring rolls I so often order at my friendly, neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant. But in this recipe, I'm showing a technique and you can fill the rolls with whatever you have on hand. You should be able to get rice paper wrappers at any large grocery store with an Asian food section but if not, they're easily found online.

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5 fresh spring rolls on a wooden cutting board served with a peanut sauce.
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Additional Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
4
Yield:
4 rolls
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 4 (8 1/2-inch) rice paper wrappers

  • 1 cooked chicken breast half, cut into thin strips

  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips

  • 1 English cucumber, cut into thin strips

  • 1 carrot, cut into thin strips

  • 4 sprigs chopped fresh basil

  • 4 sprigs chopped fresh mint

  • 4 sprigs chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

  1. Soak a rice paper wrapper in cold water just until it becomes flexible, 1 minute or less. Place on a slightly damp towel. Place some baby greens near the bottom of the round. Top with strips of chicken and pepper, leaving about a 1-inch margin on the sides. Roll tightly just until the bottom edge meets the center of the paper and sticks there. Then continue to add more chicken strips and vegetable strips. Finish with torn pieces of herbs. Complete the roll, pressing the ingredients to keep roll tight and tucking in the sides.

  2. Transfer completed rolls to a plate lined with damp paper towels. Cover each roll with damp papers towels as you work to prevent them from drying out; don't let the rolls touch each other or they will stick together.

    5 fresh spring rolls on a wooden cutting board served with a peanut sauce.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Chef's Notes:

The strips of chicken and vegetables should be no longer than about 6 inches to leave an inch margin open on the sides of the wrappers for tucking.

All measures are approximate. You can use whatever you have on hand--leftover steak, pork, cooked shrimp--and any crisp fresh veggies or herbs you might prefer.

34 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

146 Calories
4g Fat
9g Carbs
17g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 146
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4g 6%
Saturated Fat 1g 6%
Cholesterol 41mg 14%
Sodium 49mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 17g 34%
Vitamin C 46mg 51%
Calcium 32mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 252mg 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.