Spring rolls: Versatile favourites for any occasion

These thin, delicate rolls are made from rice paper, which is filled with various ingredients. The most common fillings include fresh vegetables, meat, seafood, and various sauces. Depending on preferences, spring rolls can be served raw, preserving the crunchiness of the ingredients, or deep-fried, transforming them into crispy egg rolls.

Due to their adaptability and the possibility of using many ingredients, spring rolls are an excellent choice both as a light snack and as part of a larger meal. They can be served cold or hot and are often accompanied by various sauces such as soy sauce or spicy sriracha.

Ingredients:

    
• Rice paper (a few sheets, depending on the number of servings),
• Chosen filling, such as chopped white cabbage, carrot, green onion, fresh cucumber,
• Optional: vermicelli noodles, smoked salmon, bell pepper, mango.

Sauce for serving:

    
• 30 mL soy sauce
• 15 mL sriracha
• 15 mL water

1. Prepare the ingredients: Peel the carrot and grate it. Finely chop the onion and other vegetables. If you want to add meat or seafood, make sure they are properly cooked or sautéed.
2. Preparing the rice paper: Dip each sheet of rice paper in warm water for a few seconds until it becomes soft and flexible.
3. Wrapping: Place the chosen filling in the centre of the paper. Roll the paper into a roll, folding the sides to the centre first, then rolling from the bottom to the top, similar to cabbage rolls.
4. Serving: You can serve the spring rolls cold immediately after wrapping them or fry them in a small amount of oil until they become crispy. Serve with the prepared sauce.

Spring rolls make an excellent appetizer for both everyday meals and larger social gatherings, providing a light yet flavourful pleasure. They are colourful, crispy, and easily adapted to guests' preferences. Including them on the menu for a gathering is a great idea because they are tasty and present well on the table.