Fresh Spring Rolls

These are also called as summer rolls or goi cuon which is a Vietnamese Dish.It is a mixture of vegetables and meats like cooked shrimp or pork or chicken or tofu rolled in a rice paper and served with a dipping sauce.If you like salads or raw vegetables you will love this dish.This is a great way to include more vegetables into your diet without a lot of calories.
Preparation time:20 minutes

Serves:2-3

Ingredients:

1/2 cup grated carrots

 1/2 cup grated cucumber

1/2 cup grated jicama

6 Rice papers

6 small leaves baby greens/iceberg lettuce

1/2 cup loosely packed mint leaves

1/2 cup loosely packed cilantro

2 oz rice noodles(cooked and rinsed in cold water)

Procedure:

1.Mix all the grated veggies and keep aside.

2.Heat  3 cups of water and keep it in a wide mouthed bowl. Dip the rice paper in the bowl and turn it around until all sides are soaked. Be gentle with it or it will tear. As soon as it gets soft remove it from water and  spread on a dry dish cloth or on a clean surface.The soaked rice paper should lose its stiffness.

3.Place 1 leaf of greens in the center on the rice paper and place the mint and cilantro on top and then the grated veggies.If you like you can put tofu or cooked shrimp as well on top.I used a tofu mushroom sauteed mixture.Finally place the noodles.

4.Lift the rice paper from the sides and roll it into the middle.

5.Lift the rice paper on your side and roll it onto the vegetables.

6.Now applying gentle pressure start rolling the vegetables with the rice paper towards the other end.

Tips:

The stuffing should be packed inside so you have to apply appropriate pressure to hold them together in the roll even after you take a bite but not tearing the roll. You will get this by practice.

Serve with peanut dipping sauce.
Placing the soaked rice paper on a cloth helps it from sticking to the surface.
You can also cut in in half and serve it.
You can also julienne the vegetables to prevent them from falling of the roll.