Spring Rolls

Source: Dawn, GFCF Kids, Yahoo Groups

About a pound of cooked shrimp, shredded pork, cooked fish ( salmon is good)chicken, or meat protein of choice. This amount might have made about 20 to 25 rolls, with leftover vermicelli.

1 package dried mung bean vermicelli ( I use leftover noodles sauteed with sesame oil and dipping sauce, and extra meat leftovers from making rolls for making a pasta dish to serve to my son the next day)

16 - 20 or more rice flour wrappers

16 fresh basil leaves

1 cup fresh cilantro

1 carrot julienned into very thin strips

1 Tbsp grated lime rind ( I just use lime juice)

2 Tbsp sweet chili sauce - gluten free variety

Soak the mung bean noodles in hot water for ten minutes. Drain and add a little sesame oil and if you are not soy free -- a T or two or GFCF soy sauce. If you are soy free- add a T or two of fish sauce. Have ready a "filling station" with a bowl of your prepared meat, carrots, basil leaves, noodles, and cilantro, and line rind. If you are using lime juice, just squirt a tsp or two into the basil leaf bowl. Have read a small pot of hot water for soaking the roll wrappers. Soak each roll wrapper for a minute or so until it softens. Take out, and lay flat. In the center, add a small bit of protein, perhaps one or two shrimps depending on size, or 1 T fish, or other meat. Top with a basil leaf or two, a pinch of cilantro, a little chilli sauce, and small amount of seasoned mung noodles. Don't overstuff, or they won't close, and will fall apart during eating, esp. with wee ones trying to hold them. Press a little bit to flatten, then fold it like you are wrapping a gift -- two opposite sides on left and right, then two sides on top to bottom. Lay seam side down on serving dish. Then do another. It goes quickly, especially if you have an older child dipping and retrieving the rice papers for you.

Dipping sauce:

1/3 cup cold water

1 tsp sugar

2 T fish sauce

1 T GFCF vinegar

1 small red chilli, finely chopped

1 T fresh cilantro, chopped

Sauce is easy: mix it all together and stir. I use small serving dishes for the table, so I can keep "clean" undipped sauce for leftovers.

To serve, just give everyone a bowl for dipping, and let 'em at it! Easy meal eaten with fingers. I serve with side dishes, not totally alone. This is a good thing to make if you are missing the burrito.

Try other veggies inside. I know folks use bean sprouts sometimes.