By Mayo Clinic Staff
Fresh spring rolls with shrimp

Dietitian's tip:

Instead of being fried, these appetizers are served fresh, letting the textures and flavors of the vegetable and shrimp filling shine through. Serve with the easy dipping sauce.

Number of servings

Serves 4
  1. Weight management
  2. Low-fat
  3. Diabetes meal plan
  4. Gluten-free

Ingredients

    For the spring rolls:

  1. 2 cups water
  2. 8 large shrimp (prawns), peeled and deveined
  3. 1 ounce cellophane noodles
  4. 1 cup boiling water
  5. 1/2 cup shredded carrot
  6. 1/4 cup peeled, seeded and julienne cucumber
  7. 1/2 cup thinly sliced Napa cabbage
  8. 1/2 cup bean sprouts
  9. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or fresh coriander
  10. 4 rice-paper wrappers, 8 inches in diameter
  11. 4 large fresh basil leaves, halved lengthwise
  12. For the sauce:

  13. 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  14. 1 green (spring) onion, including tender green top, thinly sliced
  15. 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  16. 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce
  17. 2 teaspoons chopped peanuts
  18. 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  19. Pinch of brown sugar

Directions

In a saucepan, bring the 2 cups water to a boil. Add the shrimp and immediately remove the saucepan from the heat. Cover and poach until pink and opaque throughout, about 3 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp to a bowl of ice water and let cool for 3 minutes. Drain and cut each shrimp in half lengthwise. Refrigerate until ready to use.

In a heatproof bowl, combine the noodles and boiling water and soak for 10 minutes. Drain and return the noodles to the bowl. Add the carrot, cucumber, cabbage, bean sprouts and cilantro. Toss gently to mix.

Place a double thickness of paper towels on a work surface. Fill a large, shallow baking dish with water. Place 1 rice-paper wrapper in the water and soak until pliable, about 30 seconds. Carefully transfer the wrapper to the paper towels and turn once to blot dry. Arrange 1/2 cup of the noodle mixture on the bottom half of the wrapper.

Fold the bottom edge toward the center and roll up the wrapper halfway, making sure to wrap tightly around the filling. Tuck 2 basil leaf halves along the inside crease of the half-rolled wrapper. Arrange 4 pieces of the shrimp, cut sides up, along the crease. Fold the right and left edges of the wrapper over the filling and finish rolling up. Repeat with the remaining wrappers, filling, basil and shrimp. Transfer the rolls to a plate and cover with dampened paper towels.

To make the sauce, combine the hoisin sauce, green onion, lime juice, fish sauce, peanuts, red pepper flakes and brown sugar in a small bowl. Stir until well-blended.

To serve, cut the rolls in half on the diagonal and place on small individual plates. Pool the sauce alongside each roll.

Nutritional analysis per serving

Serving size: 1 spring rolls

  • Total carbohydrate 25 g
  • Dietary fiber 2 g
  • Sodium 285 mg
  • Saturated fat 0.5 g
  • Total fat 1.5 g
  • Trans fat Trace
  • Cholesterol 22 mg
  • Protein 6 g
  • Monounsaturated fat 0.5 g
  • Calories 138
  • Total sugars 3.5 g
  • Added sugars Trace

This recipe is one of 150 recipes collected in "The New Mayo Clinic Cookbook," published by Mayo Clinic Health Information and Oxmoor House, and winner of a James Beard award.

June 13, 2017