summer rolls

There's nothing better than not having to cook when the weather is super hot. Still we like to eat, so why not eat yummy cool stuff? That is the time for summer rolls. Versatile and tasty you can make your summer rolls with anything you have hanging around in the kitchen. You just need rice paper wrappers to enclose them. Actually I have used large lettuce leaves in a pinch!

I usually make a roll or two as a side dish, but have been know to make three or four per person and call it dinner.

*You need one package of rice paper wrappers. They actually have them in Safeway in the "international food" aisle.  Prepare a bowl of water (or I use my ceramic pie plate) for soaking the rice wrappers. Soak about one minute. The wrapper should still have a soft crispness as it will soften more after it comes out. 

Chop and ready filling:
My favorite "fillings" ingredients include:
*tofu, marinated, plain or made into tofu "meats" whatever you have and your audience prefers sliced long
*rice noodles (cooked and set aside)
*avocado -sliced long
*grated carrots or beets or both!
*fresh basil- whole leaves, Thai or regular (I always keep hydroponic basil growing in a vase that sits on my kitchen window.)
*thin slices (long way) of cucumber
*red pepper sliced thin and long

Two kinds of sauce - you choose which one to make:
*1.easy- Hoisin sauce and peanut butter (creamy) mixed in equal amounts. Add water to thin to desired feel for dipping.

* 2.simple- creamy peanut butter and seasoned rice vinegar in equal amounts

Into either sauce you can add a little agave, sesame oil, lime juice, mashed garlic, red pepper flakes or chiles if you like. My favorite additions are mashed garlic and a squirt of fresh lime juice. I also like to sprinkle some finely chopped peanuts on top.

To prepare: ready all of your filling ingredients into small bowls. Ready your rice wrapper set up.(bowl of water and rice papers. 

Soak a wrapper. Lay flat. Put veggies in a straight line in the middle of the paper. Get ready to roll. 

There are two ways to roll. One is like a burrito -which is great for travel. And the other is just to put the veggies in and roll as tight as possible. Cut in half and serve with some delicious goodies gracefully sticking out. Sometimes I decorate with basil leaves or mint leaves.