Make Spring Rolls

Spring rolls are a delicious side dish to any Asian-influenced meal or can be a great snack on their own. Save yourself some cash and add to your culinary skill with these fried and flavourful delights. Whether trying your hand at refreshing Vietnamese spring rolls or crunchy Chinese spring rolls, use fresh ingredients to ensure all the flavours pop.

Ingredients

Vietnamese Spring Rolls

  • Round rice paper wrappers
  • 1 cup (250 ml) fresh mint leaves
  • 1 cup (250 ml) cooked shrimp
  • Torn lettuce leaves
  • 2 cups (500 ml) cooked rice vermicelli, completely cooled
  • 3 cups (750 ml) fresh bean sprouts
  • 1 medium-sized carrot

Chinese Spring Rolls

  • Spring roll wrappers
  • 1 Tbsp (15 ml) oil
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) chopped garlic
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) chopped ginger
  • ½ cup (125 ml) sliced onion
  • ½ cup (125 ml) sliced pepper
  • 1 cup (250 ml) grated carrot
  • 1 cup (250 ml) shredded cabbage
  • ½ cup (125 ml) cooked hakka noodles
  • 2 tsp (10 ml) Szechuan sauce
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) ketchup
  • Oil for frying
  • Salt to taste

Steps

Cooking Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls

  1. Cut up your shrimp and carrot. Completely peel your each shrimp ensuring that there are no pieces of tail or legs left behind. Peel them from the middle of their torso, where the legs are located, out. Once peeled, carefully cut them in half lengthwise. For the carrot, slice off each end and peel the outer layer. Chop the carrot into smaller pieces about two-inch each. Julienne each two inch piece into smaller matchstick-sized pieces.
    • If you love cucumber, feel free to add to the recipe. Not only will the cucumber add to the taste but it will also add crunch to the rolls. Remember to peel the cucumber and julienne into matchstick sized pieces.
  2. Assemble all your ingredients. Gather your ingredients together to speed up the wrapping process. Keep your carrots, shrimp, noodles, mint, lettuce and bean sprouts together as a wrapping station.
    • Having a wrapping station is especially helpfully if cooking a large amount of spring rolls or working with your kids to create a fun assembly line.
  3. Wet the rice paper wrappers. Upon opening the rice paper wrappers, you’ll find they are similar to a hard piece of paper. In order to soften them, you want to fill a large pot or deep plate with a small amount of warm water.[1] Lay a singular paper in the pot and count to five slowly.[1] Gently remove the wrapper from the water once you find that it is soft and pliable and place it on porous cloth. A cotton pillowcase or tablecloth should work well.
    • Don’t soak a wrapper too long and only soak wrappers one at a time. Soaking more than one wrapper at once will cause the wrappers to stick together. Soaking a wrapper too long will make it too soggy and it will easily fall apart.
  4. Fill your spring rolls. Lay down your filling across the middle approximately two thirds into the wrap. Start by laying down the mint. Mint can be overpowering so try using three to four leaves per wrapper depending on your taste.[2] Next, lay four to five pieces of shrimp over the mint.[2] Add a small amount of carrot or any other vegetables. Lastly, cover this layer of vegetables with noodles and lettuce.
    • Keep in mind that the mint and shrimp will act as decorative colors through the paper. Try alternating where you place them to keep your rolls looking fresh and beautiful.
    • Always keep your vegetables in the middle of the roll. Rice wrapper paper is very fragile and will tear easily. By sandwiching the vegetables, you prevent the hard carrots from poking through the wrap.[3]
    • You want the filling to take up approximately 60% of the roll’s length. When laying the filling across the roll, ensure you have left enough room on each side of the filling for the wrapper to be lifted and tucked around the filling.[3]
  5. Wrap the roll. Lift the sides over the filling. To prevent your rolls from falling apart, you need to keep it tight. Don’t pull too hard or allow the sides to become sloppy. After the ends are folded over the filling, tuck the shorter remaining end over the pile of filling.[3] Now you should have a roll that has three edges of the wrapper tucked around the filling. Using care, roll the paper and stuffing towards the last remaining edge.[3]
    • Always use two hands to roll your spring rolls. It may take some getting used to, and your first few rolls might not be the prettiest, but you’ll find that each successive roll becomes easier.[3]
  6. Roll until the wrapper is completely used. When storing your spring rolls, keep them laid on the side with the exposed wrapper. This will prevent the wrapping from lifting or the spring roll from becoming undone. As Vietnamese spring rolls are eaten uncooked, your rolls are now ready to be devoured.
    • Try serving these spring rolls with peanut sauce. This can be made by mixing hoisin sauce with peanut butter, and a sprinkle of water.[4] Adding sriracha for some heat.

Cooking Fried Chinese Spring Rolls

  1. Fry the filling. After heating cooking oil, pan fry garlic and ginger on high setting for thirty seconds.[5] Add onions and green peppers and cook for two minutes.[5] Stir in carrots, cooked noodles, cabbage and saute for another three minutes. Stir the pan often to prevent your ingredients from burning. Once done, remove the pan from the burner.[5]
    • Cut the noodles before adding them to your pan. Cutting your noodles avoids long, stringy pieces from falling out of the roll. Quickly cut your noodles into pieces 2 inches (4 cm) long for most spring rolls.[6]
  2. Add liquid ingredients. After turning off the heat, add ketchup, salt, and szechuan sauce.[5] Mix the pan well until the liquids have evenly coated the vegetables then set aside the filling until needed.
    • If you wish to add meat, such as cooked ground pork or roasted shredded chicken, add your precooked meat along with the liquid ingredients.
  3. Fill your wrapper. Lay out the wrappers in a diamond shape in front of you. Scoop up a spoonful of filling and place it 3/4 of a single wrapper. Take the horizontal ends of the wrapper cover the filling.[6] Using your fingers, tightly tuck the exposed, shorter end over the filling. Roll the filling up in the rest of the wrapper.[6]
    • If you’re having trouble getting your wrapper to seal, mix up a little bit of flour and water. Dip your fingers in the mixture and tap it along the seal of the roll. This will help keep the paper sealed.[5]
  4. Heat up the frying oil. In a wok or deep pan, heat up a thin layer of oil on medium. Once the oil is crackling, add the spring rolls in. Cook for approximately 2 minutes or until golden roll. Remember to flip the spring roll constantly to ensure it is evenly fried. Once all sides are a beautiful brown color, they are ready.[6]
    • Before and after cooking, store the spring rolls on absorbent paper, such as paper towel. This will help remove any water before cooking. Use a paper towel to remove any excess oil after cooking as well.[5]
    • Try serving your Chinese spring rolls with a side of soya sauce.



Tips

  • Try pinching down the wrapper as you roll.
  • When shaping any variety of spring roll, keep it tight. Don’t be afraid of ripping the roller slightly.

Warnings

  • Cooking with oil can be dangerous and cause extreme burns. Always keep a lid to your pot nearby, as well as a class B fire extinguisher.[7]
  • Never put out a grease fire with water. Pouring water will cause both the oil and fire to spread.. If a fire starts, pour baking powder on your pan and put the lid on it if possible.[7]

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.inspiredtaste.net/13004/how-to-buy-and-use-rice-paper-wrappers/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://notenoughcinnamon.com/2013/03/17/how-to-make-vietnamese-fresh-spring-rolls-step-by-step-recipe/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 http://fullthymestudent.com/vietnamese-shrimp-spring-rolls/
  4. ↑ http://fullthymestudent.com/peanut-dipping-sauce/
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 http://www.tarladalal.com/Spring-Rolls--(-Chinese-Cooking-)-313r
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 https://www.finedininglovers.com/recipes/appetizer/spring-roll-recipe/
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.thekitchn.com/kitchen-safety-how-to-put-out-138233
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