Spring rolls, or “Chūn Juǎn,” are a classic Chinese New Year celebration, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.
Their shape, reminiscent of gold ingots, makes them an essential festive dish. This gluten-free version, made with rice paper like Vietnamese spring rolls, is just as crispy as the original but is gluten-free. I chose to bake them for a lighter version. They were perfect.
Ingredients
For spring rolls
For the sauce
Preparation
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1. Prepare the filling
- Heat the sesame oil in a pan or wok over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and ginger, then sauté until fragrant.
- Add the shredded cabbage or leek, carrots, and mushrooms. Sauté the vegetables for 3 to 4 minutes until tender but still crisp.
- Add the minced meat, cook for 5 minutes while stirring.
- Add the rehydrated rice vermicelli and mix well.
- Season with tamari sauce, salt (if using) and Sichuan pepper. Mix well, remove from heat and let cool.
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2. Prepare the rolls
- Prepare a large plate with water.
- Soak a sheet of rice paper in water for a few seconds until it softens, then gently spread it out on a clean cloth or parchment paper.
- Place a small portion of filling at the bottom of the sheet (just below the center).
- Fold the sheet of pastry over the filling, then fold the sides over the filling. Finally, roll tightly from the bottom to form a roll. Repeat this process with the remaining sheets of pastry and filling.
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3- Cooking
Option 1: Deep frying
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or deep fryer.
- Plunge the rolls into the hot oil and fry them until golden brown and crispy (about 2 to 3 minutes on each side). Drain them on paper towels.
Option 2: Oven baking (my preferred cooking method)
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Lightly brush the rolls with vegetable oil and arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, turning them over halfway through cooking, until they are golden brown.
Option 3: Cooking with the Ninja Foodi
- 1. Brush the basket and rollers with oil
- 2- Cook the rolls in AirFry mode, 200 degrees, 10 minutes on each side.
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4. Serve
Serve the crispy spring rolls with a small bowl of the accompanying sauce. You can arrange them on a plate garnished with salad leaves and lemon slices.
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