Elegant Fresh Rolls: A Party Favorite Ready in 30 Minutes
Perfect for Entertaining! ‘Elegant Fresh Rolls’ Ready in 30 Minutes
Vietnamese fresh rolls, or ‘Wolnamssam,’ are a visually stunning and incredibly versatile dish perfect for hosting guests. They look like you’ve put in a lot of effort, but are surprisingly simple to assemble, making them an excellent choice for beginner cooks. Enjoy a healthy and delicious meal packed with fresh ingredients!
Fresh Roll Ingredients- 4 sheets of rice paper
- 4 perilla leaves (깻잎)
- A small amount of vermicelli noodles (adjust to your preference)
- Fresh red cabbage (shredded)
- 1/4 yellow bell pepper (julienned)
- 1/4 red bell pepper (julienned)
- Fresh bean sprouts (for garnish)
Simple Peanut Sauce- 1 Tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- Honey (to taste)
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- Honey (to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Start by soaking the vermicelli noodles in water. This allows them to soften while you prepare the other ingredients, saving you time. Use a small amount for a 1-2 serving portion.
Step 2
Once soaked, blanch the vermicelli noodles in boiling water for about 1 minute. You can refer to the package instructions for precise cooking times.
Step 3
Feel free to customize the filling ingredients according to your personal taste! For a more festive presentation when entertaining, choose colorful vegetables. Shred the red cabbage similarly to the bell peppers. Prepare a shallow bowl with warm water – this will be used to soften the rice paper. With the fillings ready, you’re almost done!
Step 4
Select a wide, flat plate large enough to accommodate the softened rice paper. Briefly dip one sheet of rice paper into the warm water until it becomes pliable, then carefully lay it flat on the plate. Place half of a perilla leaf, cut lengthwise, onto the softened rice paper, slightly overlapping if using two halves.
Step 5
Arrange your prepared fillings (vermicelli, colorful vegetables, etc.) attractively over the perilla leaf. Then, gently roll it up like a sushi roll or kimbap, ensuring it’s snug but not tearing the rice paper. Your fresh roll is now assembled!
Step 6
There are many delicious store-bought sauces available for fresh rolls, so making your own isn’t strictly necessary. You can easily find small bottles of dedicated fresh roll sauce. I made a simple peanut sauce at home using peanut butter that I already had.
