The Versatile Rice Paper, Part 1 of 2 – Aulacese (Vietnamese) Traditional Rice Paper Making & Veggie Rolls

In Aulacese (Vietnamese) cuisine, there is a very popular dish in which food is rolled inside thin rice paper. It is called “rice paper rolls.” In today’s program, we will learn how to make traditional rice paper from the people of Âu Lạc (Vietnam) and how to create Veggie Rolls. “The making of rice paper undergoes four steps: soaking the rice, grinding the rice, cooking the rice paper, then drying it.”

Let's continue to find out how we can create tasty dishes out of rice paper. First, we will learn how to make some of the popular dishes using thin rice paper. They are Veggie Rolls, Vegan Jicama and Tofu Roll, and Vegan Fried Spring Roll. The rice paper rolls are normally accompanied by a kind of dipping sauce. The most popular dipping sauces are sweet & sour sauce and peanut sauce. The sauce is very important because it gives the rice paper rolls a deeper flavor.

“For the Veggie Roll, we prepare the ingredients as follows: Fresh noodles, vegan ham, tofu, carrot and other vegetables. Slice the carrot thinly, then cut them into small strings. Slice the cucumber thinly. Cut the red bell pepper into halves, then slice them. Cut the purple cabbage into small strings. Slice the vegan ham thinly. Cut the tofu into small strings.

Now, we’re going to make the roll. Use the thin type of rice paper, dip it quickly into the water to soften it, and add the lettuce, herbs, and a slice of cucumber, some vermicelli. Add some vegan ham, fried tofu strings, and vegetables, then roll them together.

After finish rolling, we will make the peanut sauce. Boil a cup of filtered water, add a teaspoon of peanut butter, and stir it. Add another teaspoon of sugar, hoisin sauce, Sriracha sauce, and one teaspoon of soy sauce, and mix them well. When the mixture becomes paste-like, then the sauce is done. Now, add some of the chopped red pepper, crushed roasted peanuts, and fermented vegetables.”

Actually, there is no fixed rule for the Veggie Roll dish, it depends on each person’s taste. You just make the rice paper roll with whatever vegetables or vegan protein you like, then dip it into the sauce you prefer. Therefore, with some fresh herbs from the garden, some tofu, or other vegan proteins, we can have a tasty, quick, and nutritious meal.