Rice Paper Rolls

A lifetime ago (1993), I started my doctoral program in clinical psychology in Virginia. My classmate and now longtime bestie, Paula, and I regularly lunched at a little Vietnamese place in Williamsburg, where she introduced me to the glory of the rice paper roll. I have been in love with these little treasures ever since. Thanks, P!

Making them is as easy as folding a burrito. You just soak the papers in hot water until they become bendy and translucent, and then you stuff them with your favorite fillings. I like to use two papers at a time so that they are less likely to split.

Our favorite fillings are veg, tofu, mango, and fresh herbs, like mint and Thai basil. Sometimes we add rice noodles or peanuts for extra crunch. We enjoy dipping the rolls in either sweet chili sauce or homemade peanut sauce. Yum!

If you haven’t made these before, I encourage you to give them a try. They are easy and fun to make with family or friends, everyone can pick their own fillings, and there is just something delightfully chewy about the rice paper itself.

Yay plants!
🌱💕