Happy Wednesday!
I made the most amazing spring rolls – it was my first time to make them and I totally impressed myself!
Soft, crunchy, creamy, herb-y & just that je ne sais quoi that I TOTALLY LOVE!
Here are the rock star ingredients:
- rice paper wrappers
- seedless cucumber
- avocado
- pickled ginger
- butter lettuce
- cilantro
- shredded carrot
- chives
Pickled ginger has become my new favorite ingredient! It is spicy and sweet and vinegar-y. It’s close to the top of the list of perfect foods for you to eat so it’s a win-win! I have found myself asking for extra anytime I go eat sushi- who am I??
The funny thing is that I have never liked the taste of ginger- when I was little we would go eat at Uncle Tai’s in the Galleria and I would pick out the ginger piece by piece- if I accidentally got a bite, the face I made was horrid. I guess my palate is changing but don’ t think that means you will find blue cheese or olives on my plate any time soon- I have limits my friends!
The prep time on this is going to take some time but the pay off is so awesome!
Cut the cucumber in half and then cut the bottom off so you can stand it straight up and cut vertical slices
Once that is done you can cut the pretty matchstick pieces
Then you want to cut that GORGEOUS avocado in thin strips…..it’s like my favorite food EVER
I just need some salt and fork – YUM!
OK seriously- we need to wet the rice paper wrapper in a shallow dish of water.
Speaking of rice paper- you should be able to get it at your local market but mine was out so I went to the sushi bar and asked if they had any and he gave me several sheets for $$FREE$$ – which again makes the great point of talking to the people at your store and ask questions- they are there to help!!
The rice paper looks crazy when you get it- thin and crackly with a weird texture but when you submerge it in the water it magically transforms like shrinky-dinks in a hot oven
Just submerge it for a few minutes and then lay it on a big dry plate and get ready to fill that baby up
First- lay the avocado slices across so they are the superstar of the roll!
*disclaimer- please make sure to put lemon/lime juice on your avocado after slicing it so it doesn’t get brown spots like mine
Add the rest of the ingredients too
And then you start rollin’ rollin’ rollin’
The tighter- the better – it won’t rip- it’s super strong and you don’t want all your glorious veg pouring out when you bite into it!
Time to make the dipping sauce while that hangs out for a minute
- Taste of Asia Sweet Chili Garlic sauce (best depth of flavor of all I have tried)
- Kikkoman Ponzu sauce
If you haven’t tried Ponzu it rocks- it is a citrus soy sauce – soy sauce alone doesn’t work for me anymore
I am dedicated to new flavors like that
TAAADDDDAAAAA
Now go out and make these- they are awesome and you could even throw some shredded chicken or tofu in there if you need more protein!
Have a great day!
foodie fabulista 