Spring Rolls

I am in the biggest spring roll phase right now. They are so fresh and so healthy for you, perfect for summertime :) Since the only place in Utah I have found good spring rolls is Mi La Cai, and it is all the way in Salt Lake City, I decided to go big and attempt some on my own. Since my favorite food is a mango, I decided to try some Mango-Shrimp spring rolls. They were amazing.

Ingredients for Mango-Shrimp spring rolls:

 

Rice Paper

I found this at Macey's, they didn't have it at Walmart

Vermicelli Noodles

a.k.a. Rice Noodles

p.s. you only need to buy one package of each of these, they make a TON

Thai Kitchen Chili and Ginger sauce

Also found at Macey's

Other Ingredients:

1 Cucumber

Fresh Cilantro

Mint Leaves

1 bag of medium-sized shrimp

1 Avocado

2 Mangoes

Directions for Preparation:

Step 1. Boil a pot of hot water- enough to cover the noodles. Once the water is boiled, put the dry rice noodles in a large bowl, pour the water over the noodles, and let sit until the noodles are soft (about 10 minutes) and then drain water.

Step 2. Thaw shrimp in a bowl of cool water

Step 3. Cut the cucumber julienne style, in about

(1 cm wide by 3 in long) ish..I only ended up using half a cucumber

Step 4. cut the mangoes in long slices as well (same as cucumber)

Step 5. Slice the avocado into strips

Step 6. wash and cut leaves off cilantro. Chop into small pieces

Step 7. Wash and chop mint leaves

To make the spring rolls:

Step 1. Get 2 plates, fill one with water and leave the other one empty

Step 2. Take one sheet of rice paper, lay it flat on the plate with water, and submerge until the paper is completely under the water. Push it down for about 3 seconds and then carefully (try not to wrinkle) lay the paper on the empty plate.

Step 3. Immediely grab a small handfull of noodles, fold them into thirds and lay them on the paper.

Step 4. Add a couple pieces of each ingredient (fight the urge to add too many ingredients or the paper may rip)

Step 5. Fold spring roll like a burrito (short ends first and long ones afterward). At this point the paper should be sticky and it shouldn't be hard to hold together.

Step 6. Pour a few tablespoons of the dipping sauce into a dish or on the plate and Enjoy!

If you like peanut sauce, here is an easy recipe:

Peanut Dipping Sauce:

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 cup cold water

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon white vinegar

2 teaspoons sesame oil

1 cup warm water

1/4 cup chopped peanuts (optional)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves (optional)

Directions for Sauce:

Step 1.  Dissolve the cornstarch in 1/2 cup of cold water; set aside

Step 2. Whisk together soy sauce, peanut butter, brown sugar, white vinegar, sesame oil and 1 cup warm water in a small saucepan over medium heat; simmer and stir until sugar has dissolved

Step 3. Stir in the cornstarch mixture; simmer until sauce is thick, 1 or 2 minutes, serve warm. Garnish with chopped peanuts and mint leaves if desired.