Art Fashion Beauty: January 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

Super Quick and Easy Spring Rolls

I bought spring roll wrappers at the super market for the first time, after watching Nadia G. on Bitchin' Kitchen (yes, Adrion, thank you, I like her now) make them lickety split.

The thing about spring rolls is that you can put ANYTHING in them that you feel like - cooked meats, raw vegetables, shrimp, noodles....whatever you have around, and you have a lunch that was quicker to make than a sandwich (and so much more fun).

I filled mine with veggies I felt like eating, and the whole thing (including chopping) took about 15 minutes.

What you'll need:

2 carrots

3 baby Bella brown mushrooms or 1 Shiitake

1 red bell pepper

5 scallions (most of the greens removed)

2 diced fresh hot chilies (Thai or Serrano) *optional

Clover Sprouts

15 Whole Basil leaves

1 large grated garlic clove

1 tsp fresh grated ginger

1/2 cup soy sauce

2 TB sesame oil

2 TB rice wine vinegar

1 TB sesame seeds

Dash of Chinese Hot Oil* (optional.....I just really like things hot)

Dipping Sauce:

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 TB lime juice

3 TB chili sauce or hot sauce **I use something you won't have (because I have to order it special from their distributor in Florida); my favorite hot sauce - Amazon Hot 'n Sweet Mango Hot Sauce.

2 tsp. honey

Mix the oils, vinegar, seeds, ginger, garlic and 1/2 cup soy sauce in a bowl.

Slice the veggies (not the sprouts or basil) into strips.

Mix the veggies in the soy sauce mixture.

Let sit while you dunk your spring roll wrapper (just one) into a large bowl of water for 30 seconds or so (until it no longer feels like hard plastic).

Lay the wrapper onto a clean towel and then flip to dry both sides.

Place a bundle of marinated veggies lengthwise 1/4 of the way up from the bottom of the roll (leave an inch or so on each side for folding).

Top veggies with a pinch of sprouts and 3 basil leaves (wetting them makes them stick better).

After I made my first one I realized I could play with the basil placement to make the outside prettier...so as you go along you may want to stick the basil leaves higher up on the roll for a more dramatic presentation - they show through the top of the roll.