Spring Rolls - Vegetarian Recipe
A Perfect Healthy Snack and Wonderful Finger Food for Parties
Prep time 15 minutes | Total Time 30 minutes
These light and flavorful spring rolls are a delicious treat as well as a healthy snack. Filled with fresh vegetables, tofu, and crunchy peanuts, these vegan fresh rolls are packed with nutrient-rich ingredients.
The addition of protein-packed tofu adds a savory element, making these rolls a well-rounded snack option that will keep you feeling satisfied and energized.
My delicious homemade spicy peanut sauce is the perfect complement, but you can also dip the spring rolls in a simple savory tamari & lime sauce - check out the recipe below to learn how to make both.
Ingredients - For the Spring Rolls
Note: the amount of ingredients you will prepare will depend on how many servings you are making! The below recipe makes about 7-14 fresh rolls.
Rice paper wrappers - for this recipe I used the 6-inch wrappers
About 1/4 cup purple cabbage, chopped fine
5-10 butter lettuce leaves (depending on the size), rinsed well and cut in half
3 carrots, grated
1/2 of an orange or red bell pepper, chopped into small pieces
A handful of sugar snap peas
1 Block of seasoned tofu - you can use store bought pre-seasoned tofu or check out my Asian inspired tofu recipe which is a great addition to these wraps
The ends of 3 scallions, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
Basil leaves - optional
Ingredients For the Peanut Sauce
2 cloves garlic
1 Teaspoon ginger, chopped (you can use powder as well)
1/2 cup lite coconut milk (see notes and adjustments for substitutes)
2 Tablespoons Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
1 Teaspoon ground coriander
2/3 cup peanut butter - use creamy if you don’t have a high speed blender
1 1/2 Teaspoons lime juice
3 Tablespoons rice vinegar
Asian chili sauce to taste (1-2 squirts)
1-3 Jalapenos (optional!)
1/2 cup water
Ingredients for the Tamari Lime Sauce
1/4 cup Tamari ( you can also use Bragg’s Liquid Aminos or Soy Sauce)
3/4 tablespoon sesame oil
Juice of one lime
Instructions
1. Chop all of your vegetables into small pieces except for the lettuce and the carrots
2. Grate your carrots
3. Chop up the peanuts
4. Put all of the chopped vegetables except for the lettuce, including the scallions and peanuts, into a bowl and mix well
NOTE: the next steps are tricky if you have never rolled spring rolls. You may want to check out my YouTube video linked above to see how to put these together and roll them!
5. Cut the tofu into strips that will fit into your rice paper wrappers. You want to have strips that are about 3 inches long, 1 1/2 inches wide, and 1/4 inch thick
6. Soften your rice wrappers by putting them in lukewarm water for 30-60 seconds - once they are softened place them on a plate
7. Place a strip of lettuce leaves on the center of the rice paper wrapper - be sure your lettuce will not stick out the ends when you try to roll them
8. Place a small amount, about 1-2 tablespoons full of chopped vegetable filling on top of the lettuce
9. Place one cut piece of tofu in front of the lettuce and vegetable mixture - the tofu should be further away from you than the lettuce/vegetable mixture
10. Roll your spring roll (again, if you are not sure how to do this check out my video link!) by folding the roll over on itself, then fold the sides in, and finally roll tightly! (This is similar to how you would roll a burrito.) You can also fold the sides in then fold the roll over on itself
11. Don’t get frustrated! They will taste good even if they are not perfectly rolled - it takes time to get them just right!
12. Dip in spicy peanut sauce or the simple tamari lime sauce (recipes below) and enjoy!
Peanut Sauce Instructions:
Put all of the peanut sauce ingredients (listed above) except for the water into a high speed blender or food processor
Blend for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until smooth
Add in water slowly to thin to desired consistency
Tamari Lime Sauce Instructions:
Mix the tamari, lime, and sesame oil in a bowl and whisk together. Add spicy chili paste if you love heat as much as I do. That’s it, this sauce is simple and yummy.
Notes and Adjustments!
You can use any vegetables you like or have on hand for this dish. Just try to use differently colored vegetables as they add different nutrients. I love cucumbers in these rolls too!
You can use any type of plant-based milk in the peanut dressing, just be sure it is not sweetened or flavored. I like to use macadamia nut milk or cashew milk in this recipe as both are creamy.
Commercial peanut sauce is sweet. I tend to not add sugar to my recipes, but if you want the sauce to be sweeter add in a touch of agave or maple syrup.
These spring rolls are great appetizers for parties and wonderful healthy snacks to have on hand.
