Veggie Spring Rolls with Ginger Dipping Sauce

These veggie packed spring rolls with spicy dipping sauce make the perfect pack-ahead lunch or healthy snack. They are fresh, simple to make and so easy to customize based on tastes and mood.  

The slightly chewy rice paper coupled with the fresh veggies and absolutely addictive sauce are pretty irresistible. Additionally, these spring rolls are pretty fun to make and can involve the entire family! This recipe is entirely veggie-based, but you can add some cooked shrimp, chicken, tofu or any other protein of choice.

Even if white rice is not a part of your regular diet, these spring rolls are great to make on a weekend or cheat day. They are still relatively low in carbohydrates, minimally processed and packed with nutrients. Plus, as you’ll soon find out… the dipping sauce is also incredibly nutrient-dense and good enough to eat on its own!

INGREDIENTS:
          Spring Rolls:

• 6-8 round rice paper sheets
• 2 carrots, julienned
• 1 cucumber, seeds removed and julienned
• 1 red bell pepper, julienned
• 2 avocados, sliced
• 1 cup pea sprouts
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and julienned (optional)
• ½ cup fresh basil leaves
  
  Spicy Dipping Sauce
  (peanut and gluten free options)
• ⅓ cup all-natural peanut or almond butter
• ¼ cup water
• 2 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce  (we use tamari or liquid aminos)
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Combine all sauce ingredients and set aside.
2. Prepare all spring roll ingredients and set aside, conveniently ready to add to your rolls.
3. Individually rinse one rice paper sheet under moderately warm water or dip into a large bowl of warm water. (Either way works).
4. Lay rice paper down on a clean plate. As it sits it will become more and more pliable and easy to work with.
5. Add a bit of each spring roll ingredient to the middle of the rice paper sheet, measuring out how much would need to go in each roll depending on how many you are making.
6. Once you've added all of the ingredients, fold in the sides of the roll as if you are about to roll a burrito.
7. Once the sides are folded in, gently roll the rice paper around the ingredients going slowly as to not break the rice paper but also being sure to roll it as tightly as possible. The rice paper will stick to itself insuring a tightly rolled pocket of ingredients.
8. Once you've completed all rolls, slice each on the diagonal and serve with your dipping sauce. Enjoy!