Chef John’s Irresistible Spring Roll Recipe

1. Soak a rice paper wrapper in cold water just until it becomes flexible, 1 minute or less. Place on a slightly damp towel. Place some baby greens near the bottom of the round. Top with strips of chicken and pepper, leaving about a 1-inch margin on the sides. Roll tightly just until the bottom edge meets the center of the paper and sticks there. Then continue to add more chicken strips and vegetable strips. Finish with torn pieces of herbs. Complete the roll, pressing the ingredients to keep roll tight and tucking in the sides.

2. Transfer completed rolls to a plate lined with damp paper towels. Cover each roll with damp papers towels as you work to prevent them from drying out; don’t let the rolls touch each other or they will stick together.

   

Cooking Tips:

The strips of chicken and vegetables should be no longer than about 6 inches to leave an inch margin open on the sides of the wrappers for tucking.

All measures are approximate. You can use whatever you have on hand–leftover steak, pork, cooked shrimp–and any crisp fresh veggies or herbs you might prefer.