Spring Rolls with a Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce

Spring rolls are the perfect grab-and-go lunch for a busy work or school day.  You can assemble them the night before, place them in an airtight container with a separate container for the dipping sauce, and take them with you the next day- no heating required!  While spring rolls can be $7-9 from a grocery store counter, you can make these for nickels and pennies 😊

Serving Size: 6 Spring Rolls (Serves 2-3)

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 3 minutes

What (your ingredients):

45 grams Instant Vermicelli Rice noodles

6 sheets Rice Paper

1 cup of our favorite sliced veggies! Carrots, Radish, Cucumber, Bell Pepper, Cabbage, etc.

1 Avocado, thinly sliced

Mint or Basil leaves

2 tablespoons peanut butter (I use Justin’s Honey Peanut Butter for added sweetness.  Hint: Add one teaspoon of honey or maple syrup to dipping sauce if using a plain peanut butter)

1 teaspoon sriracha

1 teaspoon soy sauce

How (your directions):

Spring Rolls:

Soak rice noodles in boiling water for 3 minutes, then rinse with cold water.  Drain and set aside on paper towel.

Fill a large bowl with warm water.

When ready to assemble, soak one rice paper sheet in warm water for 20 seconds until pliable then lay flat on work surface.

Fill with favorite sliced veggies, a few rice noodles, 2-3 thin slices of avocado, and 2-3 mint or basil leaves.

Roll spring roll like a burrito, then repeat with remaining 5 rice sheets.

Dipping Sauce:

Combine 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 1 teaspoon sriracha, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and 2-3 tablespoons of water. 

Whisk until smooth.  Thin with extra water if desired.

Why (the science):  Spring rolls with the spicy peanut dipping sauce create a balanced meal of fiber-rich and water-rich vegetables, carbohydrates from the rice noodles and rice paper, and healthy fats from avocado and peanut butter.  Not to mention, they are incredibly refreshing on a warm Spring day!