Rice Paper Roll Bowl (Printable)

Crisp vegetables, rice paper shards, and protein topped with creamy peanut sauce for a fresh Vietnamese-inspired meal.

# 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 - 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
10 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

→ Peanut Sauce

11 - 1/3 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 fresh lime juice
16 - 1 to 2 teaspoons sriracha, optional
17 - 2 to 4 tablespoons warm water

→ Toppings

18 - 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
19 - 2 tablespoons fried shallots, optional
20 - Lime wedges for serving

# Directions:

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.
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 your chosen protein.
06 - Drizzle generously with peanut sauce. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and fried shallots. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The rice paper gets wonderfully crispy when broken into shards, adding a textural contrast that feels almost like a surprise with each bite.
  • You can prep everything while the protein cooks, so there's minimal multitasking stress.
  • It's endlessly customizable, meaning you can make it work for guests with different dietary needs without cooking separate meals.
02 -
  • The moment you assemble the bowl, the rice paper will start to absorb moisture and soften, so eat right away if you want that textural contrast, or assemble just before serving if you're making these for guests.
  • The sauce thickens as it cools, so make it a little thinner than you think you want it because room temperature peanut sauce is thicker than warm peanut sauce.
03 -
  • The rice paper shards are the textural secret of this bowl, so don't skip that step or substitute with something else, because that crisp against everything soft is what makes it interesting.
  • Make your sauce slightly spicier and thinner than you think you want it because it mellows and thickens as it cools, so you want a little buffer built in.
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