Vietnamese Spring Rolls, My Way

It's been pretty hot lately, so I decided to make spring rolls, also known as summer rolls, for dinner. I can't think of a more filling yet refreshing snack or light meal for this time of year, when our appetites are smaller, but our need for nourishment is just the same. 

Vietnamese spring rolls are usually made using rice paper and filled with delicious ingredients like prawns, pork, and vermicelli noodles. The typical dipping sauces are hoisin sauce and blended fish sauce.

I took a few shortcuts and added my own twist to this dish to make it a bit faster, ease the cleanup, and create something that accommodated our dietary restrictions (no shellfish for him and no meat for me).

For starters, I didn't make my own blend of hoisin and/or fish sauce. Instead, I used Lee Kum Kee's Sriracha Mayo. I love sriracha mayo! I've seen it served a few times with fries. Thought I'd try it with spring rolls.

I'm trying this mayo with fries next time. 

This storebought sauce was pretty tasty! It's not too rich and has just the right amount of heat. A little goes a long way. I enjoyed dipping my spring rolls in this lovely orange dip. One serving, or one tablespoon, is 90 calories. Not bad. I saw a two-pack at Costco for a good price.

I also substituted prawn and pork for baked grouper, the wild fish that was on sale at Harris Teeter today. I baked the filet at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. A sprinkle of good sea salt from Costco, Kirkland Brand, and ground rainbow peppercorns from Trader Joe's, and I was set.

The star of this dish, however, was the rice paper. Per rave reviews (reputable home cooks top pick), I got the Three Ladies Brand rice paper. I love this rice paper!!! It's really chewy after being soaked in water for five seconds. And it holds up really well to big hunks of fish and veggies. I really enjoyed its texture and its durability. So sick of rice paper falling apart, rips and tears are no fun. Other bonuses: non GMO and gluten free. Everyone is catching on to these movements lol. Southeast Asian markets, too. I highly recommend this rice paper brand. You can find it at your local Asian supermarket.

Three Ladies Brand rice paper is awesome!

Meal prep on a weeknight should be as seamless and stress-free as possible. Spring rolls are an excellent option. Few plates to wash and little cooking to do. Assembly of the summer rolls was also fun. And having spring rolls is a great way to get your daily recommendation of protein and veggies. 

You can always make this a super healthy dish by making your own sauce using something like reduced sodium soy sauce or a lime concoction of sorts. As with burritos and sandwiches, anything goes. 

I roll my spring rolls funny. Don't laugh.