Summer rolls are easy to make at home -- once you get the hang of rolling the softened wrappers.
Don't let the long ingredients list turn you off this recipe. The rolls come together quickly.
Here we filled them with ground chicken, shredded red cabbage, carrots and cilantro. For a more authentic summer roll, skip the chicken and fill with shrimp, vegetables and leftover cooked rice or rice vermicelli noodles.
Chicken Summer Rolls
1 teaspoon seasoned stir-fry oil
1/2 pound ground chicken
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon lemongrass paste OR very finely minced fresh lemongrass
1/2 teaspoon sambal oelek or other hot chile sauce
1/4 fresh chile pepper, minced
Splash soy sauce or more to taste
Splash fish sauce or more to taste
1/2 cup shredded red cabbage
1/2 cup shredded carrots
2 tablespoons finely chopped peanuts, optional
4 or 5 rice paper wrappers, sometimes labeled spring roll skins (see note)
1/4 red bell pepper, very thinly sliced
1 handful fresh cilantro leaves
Bottled sweet chili sauce OR peanut sauce for dipping
In a skillet, heat the stir-fry oil until shimmering. Add the chicken, ginger, garlic, lemongrass, sambal olek and chile pepper and cook, stirring to break chicken into crumbles, until chicken is cooked through. Season with soy sauce and fish sauce and cook 1 minute more. Stir in the shredded cabbage, carrots and peanuts (if using); remove from heat.
Working with one wrapper at a time, dip each wrapper into warm water to soften. Lay the softened wrapper onto a flat work surface. Lay three to four cilantro leaves in the center of the wrapper, top the cilantro with a couple of strips of bell pepper. Spoon about 1/3 cup chicken mixture over bell pepper, leaving a border on all sides. Fold each side over the filling, then fold the bottom over the filling, then roll upward to close. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. Serve with desired dipping sauce.
Makes 4 to 5 rolls.
Note: Rice paper wrappers are available with the Asian foods at some supermarkets and at specialty stores. Store extras at room temperature in an airtight container.
Food on 08/19/2015