a plate of Vietnamese summer rolls with fresh herbs and sauces

Vietnamese summer rolls

Published: 9th of November 2022 by – Last Update: 12th of October 2023

Summer rolls are the best finger food and light snack. Unlike spring rolls, classic summer rolls are not fried and are super low in fat. Making Vietnamese summer rolls is a great activity for guests. All you need to provide are prepared ingredients. Everybody can then build their own rolls towards their liking, dip and enjoy. 

Basic ingredients of vietnamese summer rolls

To make great tasting summer rolls, you actually don't need much. The basic ingredients are rice paper (the transparent one), vermicelli (super fine rice noodles) as well as a big bunch of fresh mint and coriander leaves. 

Traditionally, you will find shrimps or other seafood in Vietnamese summer rolls, which you can just skip if you intend to make them vegan. 

Besides the basics, you typically find carrot, pickle or cucumber, avocado and tofu as common ingredients. Try avoiding putting strong aromatic ingredients inside to not compete with the refreshing aromas from your herbs. 

How to make summer rolls

Assuming you have chopped your vegetables and fried everything that is supposed to be fried, making summer rolls is done in a few easy steps:

  1. Submerge one sheet of rice paper in hot water entirely for no longer than 2 seconds. Place it on your plate with one latch outstanding, so that you can grab it afterwards.
  2. Start piling your ingredients onto your sheet of rice paper. Align your food horizontally, between the middle of the sheet and the outstanding latch.
  3. Next, grab the latch and flap it over your pile of ingredients. Push down to close the roll.
  4. Roll the entire summer roll 80% close. Fold in the open ends from the side and continue rolling close the role afterwards. You now have a roll with clean ends.
  5. Repeat steps 1-4 until you run out of ingredients.

Vietnamese summer rolls

The best sauces for your Vietnamese summer rolls

Finger food is only half as good as it can be if you don't bring anything to dip. These rolls dip perfectly well with the following sauces and dips:

  • Siracha hot sauce or similar
  • Sweet chilli sauce
  • Hoisin sauce
  • Peanut coconut dip

Vietnamese summer rolls

Vietnamese summer rolls

Vietnamese summer rolls are a refreshing and delightful finger food that are great for group dinners. The combination of fresh herbs with the light aromas from the other ingredients make this a joyful bite without feeling heavy on your stomach.
4.8 from 4 votes
Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Vietnamese
Servings 20 rolls
Calories 146 kcal

Ingredients

base ingredients

  • 20 rice paper
  • 200 g vermicelli
  • 1 carrot
  • 200 g tofu
  • 1 bunch cilantro
  • 1 bunch mint
  • 400 g mushrooms
  • 1 cucumber small
  • 2 avocado

for taste and frying

  • 1 garlic clove
  • 5 g ginger
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil for frying
  • 1 tsp soy sauce

Instructions

Preparation

  • Wash the vegetables and herbs. Use a peeler to cut small stripes off the carrot. Cut the cucumber into slim stripers. Pick the leaves of the herbs and chop them roughly. Put everything into separate containers.
  • Cut the tofu and the mushrooms in stripes. Heat up two pans and add some coconut oil. In one pan fry the tofu stripes from each side until golden. In the other, add the mushrooms, garlic and ginger. Fry until golden, deglaze with a dash of soy sauce.
  • Bring some water to boil and quickly boil the vermicelli.

Rolling summer rolls

  • Prepare a big bowl with warm water. soak the rice paper entirely, quickly. Lay the paper out flat on a plate, with one small latch hanging off the edge of the plate.
  • Add some or all ingredients to your liking. Arrange them sideways between the center and the hanging latch. Try to place everything evenly.
  • Grab the hanging latch from below and pull it up. Use your fingers to press down the ingredients on the roll while flapping over the rice paper you just picked up. Wrap the paper around the pile of ingredients and push to close the roll for now.
  • Roll the whole thing away from you, towards the other end of the plate. When about half a roll towards the end, flap in the empty rice paper from the sides. Roll the last open rice paper onto the roll. And you are done!
  • Rinse and repeat.
Book: Embraing Change

Love this recipe? You’ll love my book too!

Learn to cook healthy and flavorful meals from scratch and boost your well-being through nutrition.
Get your copy of “Embracing Change” now.

Get the Book!

Nutrients per serving

Nutrition Facts
Vietnamese summer rolls
Amount per Serving
Calories
146
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
5
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Cholesterol
 
2
mg
1
%
Sodium
 
149
mg
6
%
Potassium
 
215
mg
6
%
Carbohydrates
 
23
g
8
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
 
588
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
30
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keywords Asian Cuisine, Finger-Food, Fresh, Herbs
Buy Me A Coffee
4.75 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating