Lemongrass Rooster Rice Paper Rolls

September 27, 2025

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You may make hen rice paper rolls utilizing plain shredded hen. However they’re a lot extra thrilling with caramelised little bits of lemongrass marinated hen! Peanut dipping sauce all the time necessary.

Gỏi cuốn – rice paper rolls – summer time rolls – recent spring rolls!

These Vietnamese rice paper rolls go by many names all over the world – summer time rolls, recent spring rolls. Not like Chinese language spring rolls, they’re not cooked. The rice paper is solely hydrated in water to make them pliable, then they’re normally stuffed with recent herbs, greens, finely julienned crunchy greens in addition to protein (prawns, pork, tofu) and rice noodles. (See my prawn rice paper rolls right here).

I really like that they’re gentle and recent but not boring “wholesome meals”.

Right now I’m sharing a hen model with a aromatic Vietnamese lemongrass marinade that caramelises into little candied bites, channelling Vietnamese beef jerky khô bò vibes.

Excellent as a meal for balmy evenings or served reduce in half on a celebration platter. And heads up – the peanut dipping sauce would possibly steal the present. It’s actually annoying as a result of the rolls take significantly extra effort than the 1 minute sauce. 😆

Elements in Lemongrass Rooster Rice Paper Rolls

Right here’s what it’s good to make these. Don’t get too hung up on the greens I take advantage of, there’s a great deal of choices!

1. Lemongrass hen marinade

The marinade is tailored from my Vietnamese Lemongrass Rooster recipe. The principle distinction is that I grate slightly than bash-and-slice the lemongrass right here so it’s superb to cook dinner with the hen and eat. Ordinarily, I bash-then-slice, combine into the marinade to infuse then pick the bits earlier than cooking (lemongrass is sort of powerful and reedy).

Lemongrass – Recent will give one of the best flavour however I’d not hesitate to make use of frozen (the finely chopped kind) or paste (I take advantage of the kind from the fridge as a result of I discover the shelf-stable one doesn’t style very similar to lemongrass). Substitute with 1 tsp lime zest – it’s not the identical as lemongrass however will add a pleasant citrusy Vietnamese-vibe flavour to the marinade.
Rooster – Thighs caramelise higher than breast and have a nicer texture inside, particularly within the method through which it’s cooked on this recipe. The hen is chopped so small and they’re basically “candied”, utterly completely different to searing a complete hen cutlet the place we goal to maintain the within good and succulent. So thighs will give a nicer texture inside (as a result of it’s a juicier reduce of hen), however having mentioned that I didn’t thoughts this with breast.
Fish sauce – Extra depth of flavour than soy sauce, that is what makes this easy marinade so good!
Sugar – Vietnamese marinades are sometimes fairly candy. We don’t use stacks on this – 2 tablespoons – however sufficient to offer the hen bits a pleasant caramelisation on the floor.
Lime juice – For a contact of tang. Substitute with rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
Garlic – Exhausting to seek out an Asian marinade on my web site with out!

Different proteins

This marinade might be terrific with thinly sliced beef and pork. If you will get your arms on the paper-thin pre sliced meat from Asian shops (freezer part), that’s splendid for utilizing in rice paper rolls. It will also be used for tofu!

For Prawn Rice Paper Rolls (shrimp), see right here.

2. STUFFING

Right here’s what I put inside these summer time rolls for a pleasant textural distinction, however there’s a great deal of choices – see under!

Rice paper sheets – Offered at common grocery shops nowadays and naturally, Asian shops! They’re good worth, round $2.30 for 16 sheets although I are likely to go for the bigger packets from Asian shops as a result of they final *eternally* and are higher worth ($3 – $4 for 40 sheets). The scale is fairly commonplace, round 22cm / 8.5″ in diameter. They’re stiff within the packet and want a short plunge in water to hydrate with a purpose to use them. They are often cooked (they go crispy!) or eaten uncooked which is the way it’s used for rice paper rolls.
Recent herbs – A vital a part of Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls!! Mint is the important thing for me, it’s what makes them so recent and exquisite and sometimes I’ll simply use mint but when I’m going the additional mile, I’ll use a second herb and coriander/cilantro is my typical selection. Vietnamese mint, Thai Basil and chives are additionally great. I like to combine it up!
Carrot for crunch – Finely julienned for some crunch! Cucumbers are additionally a favorite – both finely sliced or julienned, as are pickled carrots and daikon (recipe right here). Bean sprouts are additionally a standard choice – they will get a bit pokey and troublesome to roll although, so pop over to my prawn rice paper rolls recipe for a cheeky technique to handle them (briefly: bundle inside delicate lettuce and scrunch!).
Leafy greens – I’m utilizing finely shredded inexperienced and purple cabbage for a stunning pop of color inside these rolls. Slice very thinly so the cabbage is good and floppy – if it’s stiff and twiggy, it may well tear the rice paper. Options – Any finely sliced lettuce (even kale would work, although I’m unsure how Vietnam would really feel about that!), or items of sentimental lettuce which you could simply tear and fold slightly than slice (like butter lettuce, oak lettuce).
Vermicelli noodles or different very skinny noodles (like glass noodles) – This provides bulk and can be helpful for “weighing down” fluffy greens to make it simpler to roll up (sure, my thoughts actually thinks like that!).

3. peanut dipping sauce

All people loves the peanut dipping sauce for rice paper rolls! However reality is, hoisin is the dominant flavour, with peanut within the background. It’s additionally fairly candy. The thickness varies — I prefer it thicker for Prawn Rice Paper Rolls so it clings, however right now I’ve made it a bit thinner because the superb fillings act like little mops to soak it up.

Truthfully although, both model works it doesn’t matter what fillings you employ. I’m simply being fussy (apparently I overthink this stuff 😆).

Right here’s what you want:

Peanut butter – I take advantage of pure peanut butter as a result of it has a thinner texture and stronger peanut flavour than spreads (like Bega, Skippy’s), as a result of as I point out above, I’m deliberately making a thinner sauce for right now’s rice paper rolls. Nonetheless, you possibly can completely use unfold as a substitute, you’ll simply want a bit further milk to loosen the sauce.
Hoisin sauce – The dominant flavour within the sauce, and provides some sweetness.
Vinegar – For a contact of tang, in any other case it’s simply candy.
Milk – or water or coconut milk, to skinny the sauce. I take advantage of milk as a result of it makes the sauce the color I’m aiming for. You should utilize any kind of milk, dairy or not, full or zero fats (in case you’re questioning, I take advantage of low fats cow’s milk!).
Garlic – For flavour, finely grate it utilizing a microplane so it disappears into the sauce.
Sambal oelak or different chilli paste – 100% elective!! For a tiny contact of warmth.

The best way to make Lemongrass Rooster Rice Paper Rolls

The important thing factor to recollect with rice paper rolls is that it doesn’t matter if yours are lopsided, floppy and even cut up open a bit! Half the enjoyable is laughing at everybody’s rolling efforts. 😆 Most significantly, they’ll nonetheless style completely fabulous, irrespective of how scruffy they give the impression of being!

Marinade hen quarter-hour – Slice hen into small skinny items (2.5cm/1″ lengthy, 3mm/1/8″ thick). Combine with marinade and put aside for quarter-hour when you prep the opposite components – the items are so small they don’t want longer.
Soak noodles in boiling water for two minutes (or nonetheless lengthy your packet says). Drain properly in a colander then cool completely earlier than utilizing.

Sauce – Combine the peanut butter dipping sauce components in a bowl. For those who assume it’s a bit thick, loosen with further milk (peanut butter consistencies can differ).

Word: If utilizing unfold slightly than pure peanut butter and it gained’t combine collectively easily, simply pop it within the microwave for 20 seconds to heat. Then combine once more and it’ll come collectively.
Prepare dinner hen – Warmth oil in a big non-stick pan till extremely popular. Add the hen and cook dinner for 3 minutes, stirring always (else it’s going to go watery) till it’s golden. Switch on a plate and unfold out to chill earlier than utilizing.

Prepare dinner in two batches in case your pan is simply too crowded or your range is just not very robust, else the hen will go watery.

Dip rice paper – Fill a bowl with chilly faucet water. Then dip the rice paper in for two – 3 seconds and switch onto a slicing board. It will likely be stiff at first however will soften as you stuff and by the point you begin rolling it will likely be delicate sufficient to roll.

Word: Some rice paper rolls want a bit extra water than others. If the rice paper nonetheless has some firmer patches once you’re able to roll, simply use your fingers to moist them a bit. You possibly can even do that after they’re rolled!
Stuffings – There are not any guidelines for the order through which to stuff, although I do attempt to place issues so it appears good slightly than like a celebration streamer explosion inside (albeit a scrumptious one!). So I sprinkle coriander / cilantro within the center then high with hen. Subsequent, carrot, cabbages, mint after which weigh the pile down with rice noodles to make it simpler to roll (loop round your hand to make them a neat bundle).

TIP: Don’t pile every part within the useless centre, nor within the decrease third. Do it form of within the lower-centre. Exhausting to clarify, so right here’s a diagram of the filling place:

HOW I ROLL RICE PAPER ROLLS

Keep in mind – wonky rice paper rolls nonetheless style FAB!

Fold the underside up over the filling.
Fold the perimeters in.
Then roll up firmly to surround the filling.
Voila! You rice paper rolling genius, you!

Methods to serve rice paper rolls

It goes with out saying that beneath all situations, the peanut dipping sauce is current!

Rolled, entire – Eat on the desk like a civilised particular person, or eat on the go! (You do want a touchdown pad for the sauce although. Dunk – stroll – dunk – stroll. You’ll get the hold of it!).
Reduce, finger meals fashion – reduce in half and stand upright so that you see all the beautiful colors. Then go it round as finger meals!
DIY scenario – Lay out all of the stuffing elements, bowls of water and let everybody do their very own! Or, put one other method, save your self some work. 😈 (PS You can too pitch this as legit as a result of some eating places do supply this.)

Like to know what you assume should you get an opportunity to strive these! – Nagi x

Watch tips on how to make it

Within the video, I stack the rice paper rolls. That was foolish! They’re a bit sticky in order that they acquired caught to one another. What was I pondering? 🙂

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Lemongrass Rooster Rice Paper Rolls

Gỏi cuốn – rice paper rolls – summer time rolls – recent spring rolls!