With the weather warming up, it’s finally time to get outside and entertain! Our friend, Hanan from @Ohmygoodiescc shared her Cucumber Mango Summer Roll recipe with us and it’s perfect for gatherings! There is minimal cook time which lets you focus on what’s most important – spending quality time with friends and family.
There’s no doubt that the change in weather leaves us all ready to spend more time outside and less time in the kitchen. After a very long and cold winter of comfort foods, I like to focus more on creating simple recipes that require minimal to no cook time. With outdoor sports and after school activities resuming, the easier and quicker the recipe, the better for our house! Vietnamese Summer rolls are one of my all-time favorites to create. Also referred to as fresh spring rolls, they are rice paper wraps that can be filled with anything your family likes! Keep it simple using fresh and crunchy vegetables and if you like, add in shrimp or chicken too. The only cook time here is for the rice noodles and that only takes a few minutes. How’s that for quick? This recipe is perfect for when you’re entertaining on a time crunch and will leave everyone satisfied.
FRESH INGREDIENTS ARE KEY –
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to feed your friends and family plenty of vegetables, look no further! My Cucumber Mango Summer Rolls are perfect for entertaining on a time crunch. For this variation, I decided to go the vegetarian route by using fresh mango, avocado, carrots, vermicelli noodles and a family favorite, Pure Flavor® Mini Cucumbers. We always have them on hand, especially during the warmer months. In addition to these Mini Cucumbers being perfectly sweet and crunchy, they have a very high-water content which makes them a great and delicious way to stay hydrated on busy spring days. There is no better way to fuel your family than with fresh, nutritional ingredients. Although this version is vegetarian feel free to make this your own, use what you already have in the fridge! Add in your favourite proteins or variations of vegetables, it is super versatile!
READY IN MINUTES –
For this recipe, I like to use a vegetable peeler to get the cucumbers as thin as possible so they’re easy to roll. If you don’t have a vegetable peeler, a mandolin will work just as great. Tip: after I slice the cucumbers, I like to lay them out on a paper towel to absorb the excess moisture. This will also help with the rolling which can get a little tricky. Since the rice wrappers soak and become pliable very quickly, I like to prepare all my filling ingredients and create an assembly line, so that they are ready to go. I thinly slice up the mango and avocado, cut the carrots into matchsticks, and wash some fresh basil and cilantro. The fine vermicelli noodles are a great option, but the thicker rice noodles will work just as well. It’s all up to your family’s preference. The noodles only take a few minutes to cook and then you are good to go!
After soaking the rice paper in warm water for a few minutes, I transfer to a glass dish and start to place the fresh herbs down first, followed by the sliced Mini Cucumbers and then the remaining ingredients. It’s almost like art once you roll them up! Place them on a serving platter with the sealed side down and you are ready to serve. It’s that easy!
DON’T FORGET THE DIP –
Since we’re not adding any seasonings to the rolls, a dipping sauce is a must. The dip options are endless, but I find the summer rolls pair perfectly with a homemade peanut sauce. My version uses ingredients you most likely already have at home like smooth peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and spices. You can use water to thin I tout but if you would prefer to tone down some of the stronger flavors, you can substitute coconut milk. While whisking, it will look a little chunky, but I promise you, it will come together. Leave the water until last and slowly add a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
Full of fresh flavors and greenhouse grown vegetables, this recipe is the perfect addition to your spring repertoire. You can easily make a batch (or two) in advance if you know you are entertaining and tailor the fillings to what your family and friends like the most. These rolls are nutritious and simple to create – the hardest part is choosing which of your favorite Pure Flavor® veggies to include! Since they are easy enough to make, they don’t need to be saved just for parties – they pack great into school lunches, snacks for after-school sports, and packed into picnics too. It goes to show that healthy, crowd-pleasing treats don’t have to be complicated which makes hosting family and friends that much easier!
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