How to Make Fresh Spring Rolls
Fresh spring rolls are an easy meal or snack kids can help assemble. Soft rice paper wrappers can be filled with colorful vegetables, cooked chicken or other meats, rice noodles, and favorite dipping sauces.
They are also a great way to use leftovers because everyone can choose their own fillings and build a different combination.
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How to Make Fresh Spring Rolls
Fresh spring rolls use thin rice paper wrappers that soften in warm water. Fill them with vegetables, cooked meat, rice noodles, or a combination of favorite ingredients.
Basic Fresh Spring Rolls
Ingredients
- Rice paper spring roll wrappers
- Warm water for softening wrappers
- Cooked chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, or another favorite protein
- Thinly sliced or shredded vegetables
- Cooked rice noodles, optional
- Sweet and sour sauce, soy sauce, duck sauce, or another favorite dipping sauce
Directions
- Prepare all fillings before you begin rolling.
- If using rice noodles, prepare them according to package directions, drain well, and let cool.
- Pour warm water into a shallow bowl or pie plate.
- Dip one rice paper wrapper into the water just until it begins to soften. Do not leave it in too long because it will continue softening after you remove it.
- Place the wrapper flat on a clean cutting board or plate.
- Add a small amount of filling near the lower center of the wrapper.
- Fold the bottom edge over the filling.
- Fold both sides inward.
- Roll tightly toward the top, similar to wrapping a burrito.
- Serve immediately with a favorite dipping sauce.
Kid Tip: Use only a small amount of filling. Overfilled wrappers are much harder to roll and can tear.
Fresh Spring Roll Filling Ideas
Set out several fillings and let kids choose their own combinations. Cut ingredients into thin strips or small pieces so the rolls are easier to wrap and eat.
Chicken
Use chopped or shredded cooked chicken with lettuce, carrots, cucumber, and rice noodles.
Beef or Pork
Add cooked ground beef, shredded beef, or thin pieces of cooked pork with crunchy vegetables.
Rainbow Vegetables
Combine purple cabbage, carrots, cucumber, bell peppers, lettuce, and other colorful vegetables.
Crunchy Vegetables
Try shredded carrots, cucumber, cabbage, peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, or lettuce.
Noodles
Add cooled rice noodles with vegetables and a cooked protein for a more filling spring roll.
Use Leftovers
Small amounts of leftover cooked chicken, meat, or vegetables can be turned into spring roll fillings for lunch the next day.
How to Roll Rice Paper Spring Rolls
Once the wrapper is softened and filled, use the same folding method you would use for a burrito.
- Place the filling near the lower third of the wrapper.
- Fold the bottom edge up and snugly over the filling.
- Fold the left and right sides toward the center so both ends are enclosed.
- Continue rolling forward until the filling is completely wrapped and the spring roll is closed.
If the wrapper tears: Use slightly less filling and soak the next wrapper for less time. Rice paper becomes softer as it sits.
Kids Recipe Cards
Hamburger Carrot Spring Rolls
Ground beef, carrots, soy sauce, and ginger make a simple savory filling for fresh spring rolls.
Ingredients
- Rice paper spring roll wrappers
- 1 cup cooked ground beef
- 1 cup finely shredded or chopped carrots
- 1-2 teaspoons soy sauce, or to taste
- Ground or fresh grated ginger, to taste
- Duck sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or another dipping sauce
Directions
- Combine the cooked ground beef and carrots.
- Stir in soy sauce and ginger to taste.
- Soften one rice paper wrapper in warm water.
- Place a small amount of filling near the lower center.
- Fold in the bottom and sides, then roll tightly.
- Serve with a favorite dipping sauce.
Rainbow Spring Rolls
Colorful vegetables make these spring rolls especially fun for kids to assemble.
Ingredients
- Rice paper spring roll wrappers
- Shredded purple cabbage
- Julienned carrots
- Thinly sliced red, yellow, or orange bell peppers
- Thin cucumber strips
- Shredded lettuce
- Optional: cooked rice noodles or another favorite vegetable
Directions
- Prepare all vegetables in thin strips.
- Soften one rice paper wrapper in warm water.
- Arrange a small amount of colorful vegetables across the lower center.
- Fold the bottom edge over the vegetables.
- Fold both sides inward and roll tightly.
- Serve with a favorite dipping sauce.
Rainbow Challenge: Ask kids to choose vegetables from three or more different color groups for each roll.
Fresh Spring Rolls Video
Watch the spring roll technique from start to finish, then let kids practice choosing fillings and rolling their own.
Fresh spring rolls are just one way to turn simple fillings into an easy hand-held meal. Try more wraps, sandwiches, vegetables, and Asian-inspired recipes kids can help prepare.
Kids Lunch Recipes
Fresh spring rolls can also work as an easy lunch. Find more kid-friendly lunch recipes and meal ideas for adding variety throughout the week.
Fresh Spring Roll FAQ
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