These Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls are light, healthy and so much fun to make! They’re loaded with fresh mint and crunchy vegetables for a refreshing lunch or appetizer!

fresh spring rolls on a marble board

Easy fresh spring rolls you can make at home

Who doesn’t love a delicious fresh spring roll? (also sometimes called a “summer roll” loaded with noodles and veggies) And want to know a secret? They’re actually super easy to make at home! After trying it out, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making them all the time!

This recipe is also naturally vegan, gluten-free and healthy for you! I also included a Peanut Dipping Sauce at the bottom of this recipe, and you can also stuff them with Lemongrass Tofu for some added protein.

Key Ingredients

  • Rice papers-these are what we use to roll up the fresh spring rolls. Rice papers come in round or square shapes. For this recipe, the round ones are best
  • Vermicelli noodles-there are many different types of rice noodles out there. For these spring rolls, the thinnest variety is the best kind to use.
  • Purple Cabbage-I love using this in these spring rolls for a beautiful pop of colour!
  • Pickled Carrots-Adding some sort of pickled vegetable to a fresh spring roll really gives it an extra boost of flavour. Making homemade quick pickled carrots is quick and easy to do!
  • Cucumber-for some freshness and some crunch
  • Gem lettuce-you want to use soft lettuce like gem lettuce in the wraps, which helps to hold all the other ingredients together. Crispy lettuce like Romain will be too hard to roll up.
A flat lay of ingredients for fresh spring rolls

How to make fresh spring rolls

Fresh spring rolls are simple and easy to make. Here’s how to do it:

Wet your round spring roll paper in a bowl of warm water, then use your fingers to press it down on a large plate. Then Add all your ingredients right to the centre of the rice paper. With the plate facing in front of you, fold over the left side of the wrapper and press it down.

Repeat on the right side. Now the fun part! Flip the plate so one of the unfolded sides is facing you, then use your hands to gently pull the wrapper over the ingredients. Press down and then roll the spring roll towards you. (Kind of like you’re rolling a burrito!)

  • two hands making a vietnamese summer roll
  • showing how to fold a fresh spring roll
  • a fresh spring roll on a white plate

And you’re done! You’ve just made a Vietnamese fresh spring roll! *applause!*

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or at all confused by this technique and how to wrap spring rolls or salad rolls, click here to watch a video tutorial demonstrating how to make a fresh spring roll.

Expert tips

  • Using a bowl of warm water to soak your rice paper wrapper will help soften them up so they are just soft enough to wrap up.
  • Use vermicelli noodles in your fresh spring rolls as a base. This will help give the spring rolls some bulk and make them easy to roll (also, makes them delicious!)
  • Cut your vegetables in different sizes for some different textures in your rolls.
  • When preparing your rolls, place the ones you’ve made on a plate between two damp paper towels. This will keep them fresh and help them from drying out.
  • You can make these rice paper rolls in advance if you store them in the fridge in an air-tight container between two damp paper towels.
  • These fresh spring rolls can be eaten with any
  • Want to make them more filling and high in protein? Add any type of protein you like to these rolls! (Tofu, meats, edamame, tempeh…etc.)

Storage tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container with a damp paper towel placed directly over the spring rolls. This will helps the spring rolls stay hydrated and prevent the rice paper wrappers from drying out.

FAQ

Are Fresh Spring Rolls good for you?

Fresh Spring Rolls are a healthy alternative to fried spring rolls and light, gluten-free (usually) and low in carbs.

Are Fresh Spring Rolls and summer rolls the same thing?

Fresh Spring Rolls and Summer Rolls are the same. Fried spring rolls are usually wrapped in dough.

Where I can find rice paper wrappers?

You can find these at your local Asian grocery store, at many chain grocery stores in the aisle with other Asian ingredients or on Amazon.

cut up rice paper rolls on a marble board

More Vietnamese-style recipes to try

If you tried these Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!

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fresh spring rolls on a marble board

Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls

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  • Author: Jessica Hoffman
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Yield: 8 rolls 1x
  • Category: Appetizer, Main
  • Method: Roll
  • Cuisine: Vietnamese
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

After making this recipe you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making fresh spring rolls at home all the time!

Ingredients

Units Scale

Quick pickled carrots 

  • 2 carrots, cut into matchsticks
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp sugar

Fresh spring rolls 

  • 8 rice paper wrappers
  • 100g vermicelli noodles, cooked according to package directions
  • 8 leaves butter lettuce
  • 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
  • 1/2 cucumber, cut into matchsticks
  • 8–16 pieces of pickled carrot sticks
  • a handful of mint leaves
  • a handful of cilantro leaves

Peanut dipping sauce

Instructions

  1. Mix the vinegar, water, sugar and salt together in a bowl then place the carrots sticks in the bowl. Let sit for at least 30 minutes, or overnight if preparing in advance. 
  2. Soak 1 rice paper wrapper in warm water until pliable, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  3. Using your hands, press the wrapper onto a large plate until it’s flat on the plate.
  4. Arrange a small mound of your filling ingredients in the center of the wrapper.
  5. Fold the left side and right side of the wrapper and press down.
  6. Flip the plate 90 degrees and fold the edge of wrapper you over filling, tucking in filling as tightly as possible, then fold in sides and continue to tightly roll until sealed.
  7. Repeat for all your rolls 
  8. To prepare the peanut sauce, mix all the ingredients together in a small pot or microwave until combined, then serve with the spring rolls. 

Notes

This video tutorial should help you with the rolling process if you are more visual. 

Using vermicelli noodles in these spring rolls will help give them some bulk and make them easier to roll up. 

If preparing these spring rolls in advance, store them in an airtight container in the fridge between two damp paper towels. 

Add or swap out any veggies you like, or try adding some tofu or tempeh if you want more protein in these rolls.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 roll with sauce
  • Calories: 140
  • Sugar: 4g
  • Sodium: 257g
  • Fat: 4g
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 23g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 5g