TGIF, my friends!

If you’ve been following my recipe posts, you know that I’m always looking for quick, easy, and course, yummy recipes. So when Nancy of I Made This Dish reached out to me to share her 15-Minute Vietnamese Summer Rolls recipe, I had to try it. I would never endorse anything that I haven’t tried first so I did follow Nancy’s recipe as is but I also made some with shrimp instead of chicken. They both turned out delicious, and so easy to make!

The rolling part takes a little practice. I have to admit, mine didn’t come out as pretty as the ones pictured below. I found Nancy’s step-by-step directions with pictures very helpful so I thought I’d ask her to guest post for today and showcase her recipe. This is the type of dish that I crave in the summertime, healthy, light, and tasty.

 

15 MINUTE SUMMER DISH: VIETNAMESE FRESH ROLLS

It’s getting H.O.T outside! Finally, summer is here! That means it’s time for cute skirts, for summer dresses, for short shorts, and of course for sexy bikini too.

I started to see more and more colleagues in my office opt for salad for lunch. But let’s be real, we say we want to be healthy, but deeply inside we all want something delicious, like a juicy burger, right? So what should we eat that is delicious, fresh, BIG flavors, yet SMALL on calories, to feel lean and more energy this summer?

Make these crispy fresh Vietnamese fresh rolls this season. We have developed this recipe exclusively for you, the busy fashionable women.

• It’s very healthy, but not your typical boring salad: It’s loaded with fresh vegetables and it bursts with delicious flavors from smoky rotisserie chicken to aromatic cilantro to savory dipping sauce.
• It’s super quick: 15 minutes and dinner is ready! (I swear!)
• And the best part: You probably have most of the items at home. On your way home tonight, drop by the grocery store to pick up a ready rotisserie chicken for dinner. Your dinner is 75% completed! (How simple is that?)
  

You sure will LOVE these fresh Vietnamese rolls, and if you don’t like them……. just send the leftovers my way!

What you’ll need:

• 4 ounce dried rice vermicelli
• 12 sheets of rice papers
• 6 lettuce leaves, cut in half
• 12 fresh cilantro sprigs
• 1/2 carrot, cut in matchsticks
• 2 cups of cooked shredded chicken (leftover rotisserie or turkey)

Vietnamese nuoc cham (fish sauce dipping sauce)

• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoon fish sauce
• 10 tablespoon of water

Don’t have fish sauce? No problem!

• Opt for reduced sodium soy sauce & wasabi
  

Directions:

1. Cook rice vermicelli following package instruction. Drain, and set aside to cool.
2. In a large shallow bowl (or a frying pan) add warm water. Working with one sheet at a time: soak a sheet of rice paper into water to completely submerge, about 5 seconds. Remove and place the sheet on a cutting board or a large plate.
3. First, add lettuce leaf on rice paper as a foundation for other ingredients. Next, add chicken, carrots, cilantro (follow the picture instruction to avoid overfilling and unable to wrap the roll at the end of the day, we are trying to make a roll not a burrito. :P)

4. Fold the bottom half of the rice paper over the filling.

Fold both sides of the paper in.

Holding firmly and keep rolling the paper until it shapes a tube.

Place the roll on a plate covered with a damp kitchen towel to keep the roll moist, while you prepare the remaining rolls.

TIPS:
All ingredients are flexible. You can omit chicken/turkey for vegetarian version. Replace cilantro with fresh basil or omit altogether. Or add mango, avocado slices to your liking.
Rice vermicelli and rice papers can be found in Oriental grocery stores or Asian aisles at your local supermarket.

To prepare Vietnamese dipping sauce: In a medium bowl or a glass container combine all ingredients together until sugar dissolves.

Serve these fresh Vietnamese cold rolls with traditional Vietnamese nuoc cham (fish sauce dipping) or non-conventional, but still very delicious, soy sauce & wasabi dipping.

Nancy is the Editor-in-Chief at IMADETHISDISH.COM, she helps busy working women to save 5 hours a week in the kitchen, so they can spend more time with their family.
Get a copy of your FREE Time saving Cookbook with 5 easy and under 20-Minute recipes and cooking videos at www.imadethisdish.com

 

Make sure to check out Nancy’s blog, where you’ll find many other quick and easy recipes just like this one.

What are your FAVORITE time-saving summer recipes? We’re all ears. Please share!

 

 

 

Linking up with these lovelies: Thursday Favorite Things | Fab Favorites | Mix It Up Friday | Creative Mondays