Put a Spring in Your Step: Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

These are absolutely delicious.  Fresh, crisp veggies; smooth vermicelli rice noodles tossed with garlic and cilantro; and a creamy peanut sauce are guaranteed to put a spring in your step!

For the Spring Rolls

Ingredients

*Rice paper wrappers (sold in many grocery stores in the Asian foods aisle or here in Boston anywhere in china town)

*Vermicelli Noodles (i.e., Rice Noodles), about 2-3 cups cooked

*2 Carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

*1/2 Cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

*1 Red pepper, thinly sliced

*1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced

*1 cup fresh spinach, thinly sliced

*2 garlic cloves, crushed

*3/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Directions

1.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the vermicelli noodles for 5 minutes.  Drain in a colander and transfer to a bowl of ice water.  This prevents the noodles from sticking.  Set aside.

2.  Chop all vegetables and boil about 2 cups of water to soak the rice paper.

3.  Drain the vermicelli noodles and toss with cilantro,  garlic, and a dash of salt and pepper.

4.  Make an assembly line: first the hot water for the rice paper wrappers, then the vermicelli noodles, then the veggies.

5.  Pour warm water into a shallow dish (a shallow skilled works great).  Soak a rice paper wrapper in the water for about 5 seconds, but no more than ten.  Place on a plate.  Starting at one end of the rice paper wrapper, add some of the vermicelli noodles  mixed with cilantro and garlic.  Add a bit of the chopped spinach and top with strips of the vegetables.  Roll the wrapper over the veggies and continue to roll, folding in the sides as you make your way up.  Repeat with remaining veggies and wrappers.  Place in refrigerator  until ready to serve.

For the Lime-Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

*½ cup natural peanut butter (chunky or smooth)

*3 cloves garlic

*2 Tbs. soy sauce

*1 ½ Tbs lime juice

*2 Tbs white wine vinegar

*3 Tsp. brown sugar

*½ cup warm water

*¼ tsp chili powder (optional or more for more heat)

*Dash of salt and a dash of pepper (not too much because the soy sauce is salty)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Garnish with fresh chopped green onions and chopped peanuts if desired.

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