Thai Spring Rolls with dipping sauce

Thai Spring rolls are as fun to make as they are to eat.....it is something I always order when I go to a Thai restaurant. You can order ones with different filling....the most common are the ones with shrimp in them. They are low calorie and low fat....all of the items can be prepped ahead of time and then assembled when you are ready to eat...

Thai Spring roll dipping sauce...

1/2 cup of water

1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lime

1/4 cup of rice wine vinegar

1/2 cup of white sugar

1/3 cup of fish sauce

1 chopped clove of garlic

1 teaspoon of dried crushed red pepper

add all of the ingredients together and whisk...store leftovers in a container with a lid in the refrigerator...

this can keep for a long time...it is good served with a few sliced green onions on top and a little bit of finely chopped peanuts.....this sauce is sweet and salty and tart all at the same time...

Thai Spring rolls

rice papers

shrimp, crab, bbq pork, chicken

fresh basil

cilantro (optional)

mint (optional)

shredded carrots

shredded cabbage and or lettuce

green onions chopped

rice noodles, cooked

cucumber sliced julienne

daikon radish, shredded

as you can see, anything goes....go with what is fresh and in season and what you like, certain things go together...but always use fresh basil...it makes the roll...

here is what I used, cabbage, carrots, daikon radish, shredded lettuce, green onions, basil, slivered pork and Krab....yes the Crab with a 'K'......

                                and bean thread noodles.....

            you cook them in boiling water until soft.....about 5 minutes...

these are rice papers....you can buy them at Asian stores and at some grocery stores..don't you just love the 3 ladies on the front of this one?

you need to wet a flour sack towel.... lay flat on the counter...then have a cake pan or pie plate with warm water in it.....get everything ready and you are set to go....

you put a rice paper in the water for 10-15 seconds until partially soft and then lay on the towel..

they are easy to work with, although tender, they are still sturdy.... now we start filling.......

don't over fill. So add the items you like...this one has Krab, radish, carrot...

basil...cabbage

and a little lettuce....now we are ready to roll......

first one side in, like this.....

next turn in the other side......

flip up the bottom....

rise it up over the filling stretching tight, for a tight roll....then roll, roll, roll...

set them aside and roll again...it is fun if everyone makes their own, putting on the things you like...

and serve with the dipping sauce....so good! Serve with your favorite side dishes....We had Thai sticky rice and Miso soup.....this is fun party food or for children to make their own....the rice paper wrappers taste like well, rice....and who doesn't like rice.?..

Cheers to Happy  !!