{Handmade} VEGETABLE SPRING ROLLS

A perfect summertime lunch...and easy to personalize to your own taste. I used a mix of veggies on-hand and ramen noodles, but you can use whatever you like. For boosted protein, you can also add tofu, edamame, or meat of choice. Even shrimp if you like! If using meat, it is best to slice it thinly or the rolls become difficult to assemble and eat.

This was my first time using rice papers and it was as challenging as I expected when the first couple wrappers ended up stuck together in a gooey blob easier than I thought it would be. Not soaking the wrappers for more than five seconds and to slowly stretch them out flat on the plate for roll assembly in one try if possible. If the wrappers get folded and scrunched, they are difficult to get flat without ripping.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~VEGETABLE SPRING ROLLS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Materials:

rice papers
1.5-2oz Ramen noodles - boiled & rinsed; cooled
3-4 leaves leaf lettuce
0.5 cucumber, cut in strips
1 carrot, grated
2 scallions, sliced
0.5 red bell pepper, cut in strips
5 leaves mint, minced

Procedure: 

FIll a bowl/casserole dish with a couple inches of warm water. One at a time, immerse a rice paper into the water for five seconds. Slowly stretch out so the wrapper doesn't fold as you remove from water onto a plate. 

Top one side of paper with veggies and noodles, leaving an inch border for rolling. Roll up like a burrito. Can be made a day in advance & refrigerated. Enjoy with dipping sauce of choice....I whipped up two different dipping delights:

Hoisin Peanut
2 tsp hoisin
0.5 tsp soy
0.5 tsp water
grated carrot & chopped peanuts for topping

Almond Sesame
2 tsp almond butter 
0.5 tsp soy
0.5 tsp water
0.25 tsp honey
0.25 tsp sesame oil
sesame seeds for topping

Discussion/Conclusion:

These spring rolls are quick, easy and delish! They kept well in the fridge overnight too. A great way to get more veggies in your diet or o use up some veggies you have laying around. I will definitely make these again and experiment with different filling combinations.