What do you eat with Vietnamese spring rolls?

Vietnamese spring rolls, also known as fresh summer rolls or gỏi cuốn, are a popular appetizer or light meal in Vietnamese cuisine. They consist of various ingredients wrapped in rice paper and served with a dipping sauce. Some common questions people have about spring rolls are what ingredients go in them, how to assemble them, what dipping sauce to serve them with, and what other foods or dishes to eat them with. Here is a comprehensive look at everything you need to know about what to eat with Vietnamese spring rolls.

What are the main ingredients in Vietnamese spring rolls?

While the filling ingredients can vary, some typical main ingredients in Vietnamese spring rolls include:

• Rice vermicelli noodles – Thin rice noodles are a standard component. They are soaked in hot water to soften before using.
• Leafy herbs – Mint, Thai basil, cilantro are commonly used fresh herbs.
• Lettuce – Romaine or iceberg lettuce leaves are often used.
• Protein – Cooked shrimp, pork, chicken or tofu are typical proteins.
• Vegetables – Carrots, cucumbers, bean sprouts and/or cabbage are popular veggies for crunch and freshness.

The protein and vegetable components are typically sliced into long, thin strips to make them easier to roll up. The leafy herbs are left whole to add nice bursts of fresh flavor. The softened rice vermicelli noodles add carbohydrates and texture. The lettuce leaves act as the edible wrapper to contain the other ingredients.

How do you assemble Vietnamese spring rolls?

Putting together Vietnamese spring rolls takes a little bit of practice, but it is easy once you get the hang of it. Here are the basic steps:

1. Soften the dried rice vermicelli noodles by soaking in hot water for 5-10 minutes until pliable. Drain and set aside.
2. Prepare the protein, vegetables and herbs by slicing into long strips.
3. Fill a large bowl with warm water. Dip one rice paper wrapper into the water for just 1-2 seconds to moisten. Transfer to a damp kitchen towel or paper towels.
4. Place the moistened wrapper on a plate or cutting board and smooth it out into a rectangular shape. Position it so one side is closest to you like a diamond.
5. Layer some noodles, lettuce, protein, vegetables and herbs in a row near the bottom third of the wrapper, leaving the sides bare.
6. Fold the bare left and right sides of the wrapper over the filling. Then, starting from the bottom, tightly roll up the spring roll away from you.
7. Place the assembled spring roll seam side down and cover with a damp paper towel until ready to serve.

It takes some practice getting the rolling technique down, but don’t get discouraged. The rice paper is quite pliable and will seal together after rolling.FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER

What dipping sauce is served with Vietnamese spring rolls?

The traditional dipping sauce for Vietnamese fresh spring rolls is called nước chấm. It is a quick and easy sauce made from just a few ingredients:

• Fish sauce – This adds a savory, salty taste.
• Lime juice – For a bright, citrusy flavor.
• Garlic – Minced or grated garlic adds a punch of flavor.
• Chili peppers – Thinly sliced hot chilis like serranos add spice and heat.
• Sugar – A bit of sugar balances out the other flavors.
• Water – Water ties everything together into the thinnable sauce.

The ingredients are combined together in a bowl and mixed well. You can adjust amounts of each component to suit your taste preferences for the balance of salty, sour, sweet and spicy. The nước chấm sauce complements the fresh components of the spring rolls perfectly.

In addition to the traditional nước chấm, peanut sauce is also a popular dip for spring rolls. Hoisin and sriracha sauce are other good options too.FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER

What foods go well as a meal with Vietnamese spring rolls?

Vietnamese spring rolls make an awesome appetizer or a light summertime meal when served with other complementary dishes. Here are some ideas of what to eat along with fresh Vietnamese spring rolls:

• Vermicelli bowls – Rice vermicelli noodles topped with protein, veggies and herbs. The vermicelli bowl ingredients mirror the flavors in the spring rolls.
• Pho – This classic Vietnamese noodle soup makes a perfect pairing with spring rolls. The broth helps balance the freshness of the rolls.
• Vietnamese grilled meats – Grilled shrimp, pork and chicken work great with spring rolls since they use similar ingredients.
• Salads – A light Vietnamese salad with shredded cabbage, herbs and nuoc cham pairs nicely.
• Fresh summer rolls – Offering assorted fillings like shrimp, pork, tofu or vegetables keeps it interesting.

Beyond Vietnamese food, the fresh spring rolls also go well with a wide range of light Asian cuisines. The ingredients have similar flavors to Thai, Lao, Cambodian and Chinese dishes. Any food with complementary bright, herbal and acidic flavors will complement the rolls.FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER FILLERTextTextFILLER

What are some recipe ideas for fillings in Vietnamese spring rolls?

There are endless possibilities when it comes to ingredients and fillings to use in Vietnamese spring rolls. Here are a few tasty recipe ideas:

Shrimp Spring Rolls

• Shrimp
• Rice vermicelli
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Cucumber
• Cilantro
• Mint
• Nuoc cham dipping sauce

Pork Spring Rolls

• Pork
• Rice vermicelli
• Lettuce
• Cucumber
• Cilantro
• Thai basil
• Peanut dipping sauce

Tofu Veggie Spring Rolls

• Tofu
• Rice vermicelli
• Lettuce
• Carrots
• Avocado
• Mint
• Vermicelli bowl dipping sauce

As you can see, the wrappers and noodles stay constant while the fillings can be customized in many ways. Use your favorite proteins, herbs and vegetables to create your ideal Vietnamese spring roll filling combo.

Conclusion

Vietnamese spring rolls are a refreshing appetizer or light meal perfect for warm weather and picnics. The star ingredients in the rolls are fresh herbs, lettuce, vermicelli noodles and sliced proteins and veggies. They are wrapped in moistened rice paper and served with a seasoned fish sauce based dipping sauce. Some tasty food pairings include pho noodle soup, vermicelli bowls, Vietnamese grilled meats and complementary salads and appetizers. There is an endless variety of proteins and produce that can be used to create customized spring roll fillings. Now that you know what ingredients to use and what to serve them with, you can impress your guests with fantastic Vietnamese spring rolls.