Recipe and Photo courtesty of the California Asparagus Commission © 2010
Spring Rolls:
- 1 lb. California asparagus
- 3/4 cup fresh mint leaves
- 3/4 cilantro leaves
- 1 mango or papaya
- Fresh ginger, 2-inch piece
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup dry roasted, salted peanuts, chopped
- 2 cups fresh bean sprouts
- 8-inch Vietnamese dried rice paper Spring Roll Wrappers *, 6 to 8 sheets
Dipping Sauce:
- 1/4 cup store-bought Asian Sweet Chili sauce*
- Juice of 1 lime
Prepare filling: Blanche asparagus in boiling salted water until tender to the bite, 3 to 5 minutes. Peel and julienne mango or papaya and ginger. Julienne bell pepper. Set aside with remaining filling ingredients.
To assemble, fill a large bowl with hot water. Working with one wrapper at a time, slip rice paper wrapper into water until pliable, about 1 minute. Place wrapper on cutting board. In the center, put 3 to 4 asparagus spears with the tips coming off the end of the wrapper slightly, 3 to 4 mango or papaya slices, 3-4 pepper slices, 3 tablespoons sprouts, 2 tablespoons herbs, sprinkling of ginger and peanuts. Roll the wrapper from the bottom up, tightly. Leaving the ends open.
Set aside and cover with a damp towel. Finish with remaining wrappers.
When ready to serve, slice wrappers into 3 segments each and stand upright on a serving platter. Mix chili sauce and limejuice together. Serve along side the rolls as a dipping sauce.
Makes 18 to 24 slices
* Found in the import section of your market or an Asian market.