roll it

a while back on a trip to the grocery store i came across "rice paper".
it reminded me of something i had had and thought to be a fun, new element to use in making snack or even lunch for the kids.

let me rewind back a bit...

a few years ago a friend of ours visiting from germany lead us to this cute, clean friendly looking hole in the wall. 

a restaurant called "Joom" located in the Fairfax District here in LA. it turned into our favorite Thai place in town. 

anyhow i had a little flashback to when i had the most delicious fresh spring rolls filled with fresh vegetables served with a sweet and sour slightly peanutty dipping sauce.

need i say more? - i grabbed everything in the produce section that looked like it could /would belong into my experiment of a summer roll. 

back at home i gathered everything and started soaking, cutting [julien style], mixing and rolling.

and a few minutes later i had my first homemade rice paper spring roll filled with all the veggies my heart desired. my photo down below does not show the peanut sauce  but you can find the recipe further down.

the kids even tried and loved it. 

 you need:

    4 rice papers  9 1/2 

    a bowl or frying pan big enough & half way filled with hot tap water to soak rice paper
  
     

here is what i filled mine with

 2 -3 cups cole slaw mix, cabbage and carrots shredded [ready from the market]
     2 iceberg lettuce leaves cut into strips

 5-6  fresh button mushrooms cut julienned style 

     1 good handful of  fresh pea shoots 

     3 medium scallions [white and light green parts]

     1 medium english hothouse cucumber[ small Persian work just as well ] 

     2 tbsp sugar
  1/2 tsp salt and pepper to taste
     3 tbsp rice or white vinegar
     1 tsp vegetable oil
        sesame seeds

        handful of fresh mint, cilantro and Thai basil 

   

   * you could add avocado, precooked shrimp, tofu ,chicken, egg 

 what I did:

      transfer cole slaw into a bowl and add salt, pepper, sugar and vinegar mix well and set aside
      soak the rice paper in the hot water until it is soft and pliable
      lay it out on a clean work surface and smooth it out
      place a row of cole slaw running the width of the rice paper,moving in a little bit from the edge
      on this row continue to layer with some lettuce strips, bean sprouts, mushroom, scallions and herbs
      flap the outer right and left edge over the stuffing pull tight and roll the summer roll as if it were a
      cigar
      repeat with the other rice

for the peanut sauce:
      1-2 tbsp peanut butter
         2 tbsp lemon juice
         1 tbsp lime juice
         1 tbsp soy sauce
          fish sauce

          * I like to add a pinch of chilli for a bit of a kick 

I just blend it all in a blender/ food processor and it's ready to serve for sipping with the summer rolls. :) 

What do you like to fill rice paper? Are there any other uses in the kitchen for rice paper? Would love hear!