Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Nuoc Cham Dipping Sauce

Vietnamese · Spring · 90 min · Serves 4 · By Lesapor Test Kitchen

Master these intricate Vietnamese spring rolls, a perfect balance of fresh vegetables, herbs, and protein wrapped in rice paper. These rolls make an excellent make-ahead meal and are paired with a traditional nuoc cham dipping sauce, offering a burst of umami and brightness. An ideal dish for spring meal prep that impresses with both flavor and presentation.

Ingredients

  • 16 rice paper wrappers
  • 500 grams shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 200 grams pork tenderloin, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon coconut aminos
  • 2 teaspoons lime juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cucumber, julienned
  • 1 cup carrot, julienned
  • 1 cup fresh mint leaves
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated
  • 1 cup bean sprouts
  • 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 red chili, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup water

Method

  1. In a bowl, combine shrimp, pork slices, fish sauce, coconut aminos, lime juice, and black pepper. Marinate for 15 minutes.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium heat, cook the pork and shrimp until just cooked through. Remove from heat and let cool.
  3. Prepare a station with the softened rice paper wrappers, cooked proteins, cucumber, carrot, herbs, lettuce, and bean sprouts.
  4. Dip one rice paper wrapper in warm water for 5 seconds, then place on a damp kitchen towel.
  5. Layer one shrimp, a slice of pork, cucumber, carrot, mint, cilantro, lettuce, bean sprouts, and peanuts onto the bottom third of the wrapper.
  6. Fold in the sides of the wrapper, then roll tightly from the bottom. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
  7. To make the dipping sauce, combine fish sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, chili, and water in a small bowl. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
  8. Serve the spring rolls with nuoc cham dipping sauce on the side.