Ingredients for a colorful fresh spring roll.
Rice paper wraps filled with raw vegetables.
I love Vietnamese fresh spring rolls, also known as summer rolls. Rice paper wraps offer another gluten free wrap option. Be sure to double check the ingredient list as not every rice paper wrap is gluten free if you are looking for this option.
Just like nori for making sushi maki, rice paper wrap can be used to roll up anything you can think of. My kids like to make their own and they can get very creative with it; imagine a fresh fruit coulis drizzled over it—blueberry to be precise. I am kindly reminded by them that I a missing a spectrum of blues, indigos, and violets for it to called a rainbow.
Here's a blend of my veggie fruit wrap. It's a light starter and a pretty bite size treat for everyone.
Rainbow Rolls
INGREDIENTS
• 1 carrot
• 1 red pepper
• 1 mango
• 1 cucumber
• 1 avocado
• A handful of mint leaves
• Rice paper , 22 cm
PREPARATION
Cut and slice your vegetables into thin strips. Place them into separate bowls.
INSTRUCTIONS
Prepare a pan filled with a half inch of warm water. Take a piece of rice paper and place it in the pan of water, flipping it quickly so that both sides are wet and then place it on a flat work space (I use a silicone or wooden chopping board). Use your fingers to rub in the water and to flatten out the rice paper.
Place your sliced vegetables about a a third up of the rice paper and leaving an inch and a half on the sides. Then line up two or three pieces of mint leaves next to it and another line of avocado so that you will have 3 rows neatly lined up next to each other.
Start from the bottom and roll up into your first line of vegetables, tuck in the sides of the rice paper and continue to roll up.
Using a sharp knife cut the rolls in half and then in thirds. Line them up on a tray and serve immediately. You can also plastic wrap it and place it in the fridge to serve later.
NOTE
You don't want your rice paper to be too wet otherwise it will tear. Give it a give dip on both sides and quickly take it out as it will continue to absorb the water once it is placed on your flat work space.
Practice makes perfect. Keep your rolls tight when rolling and make sure not to overstuff your rolls.