Rice Paper Roll Bowl (Printable Version)

Fresh Vietnamese-style bowl with crisp vegetables, rice paper, and creamy peanut dressing

# What You Need:

→ Rice Paper & Base

01 - 8 sheets rice paper
02 - 2 cups cooked jasmine rice or vermicelli noodles, optional

→ Protein

03 - 14 oz grilled chicken breast, sliced, or 14 oz firm tofu pressed and cubed, or 14 oz cooked shrimp peeled and deveined

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 large carrot, julienned
05 - 1 cucumber, deseeded and julienned
06 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
07 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
08 - 2 cups mixed salad greens
09 - 0.5 cup fresh mint leaves
10 - 0.5 cup fresh cilantro leaves

→ Peanut Sauce

11 - 0.33 cup creamy peanut butter
12 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
13 - 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
14 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
15 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
16 - 1 to 2 teaspoons sriracha, optional to taste
17 - 2 to 4 tablespoons warm water to thin

→ Toppings

18 - 0.25 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
19 - 2 tablespoons fried shallots, optional
20 - Lime wedges for serving

# Steps:

01 - Fill a large shallow dish with warm water. Submerge each rice paper sheet for 5 to 10 seconds until just softened, then place on a clean towel. Stack 2 to 3 sheets at a time and cut into rough strips or squares. Set aside.
02 - Grill, pan-fry, or bake your chosen protein. Slice or cube as appropriate.
03 - Wash, peel, and slice all vegetables as indicated in the ingredient list.
04 - In a bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, hoisin, rice vinegar, lime juice, and sriracha. Gradually add warm water until the sauce is smooth and pourable.
05 - Divide the rice or noodles among four bowls. Top with rice paper pieces, vegetables, salad greens, herbs, and chosen protein.
06 - Drizzle generously with peanut sauce. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and fried shallots. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • Zero rolling skills required—just tear, chop, and arrange at your own pace.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, making it ideal for meal prep or throwing together on a busy night.
  • You actually taste each ingredient instead of everything getting lost in a tight roll.
  • It feels elegant and restaurant-worthy, but honestly takes about as long as making a sandwich.
02 -
  • Don't over-soak the rice paper or it becomes gluey; even five seconds of water is often enough, and you're better off slightly under-softened.
  • Make the peanut sauce at least five minutes before serving so the flavors meld and mellow together into something more sophisticated than the sum of their parts.
  • Prep all your vegetables before you start cooking anything; having them lined up is when you realize this meal really is ridiculously fast to assemble.
03 -
  • Assemble bowls just before serving so the rice paper stays textured and the greens don't wilt under the weight of everything else.
  • If you're making this for a group, set out all the components and let people build their own—it's fun, interactive, and everyone gets exactly what they want.
  • The sauce gets thicker as it sits, so thin it with a splash of water right before serving if it's been sitting for more than ten minutes.
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