LEMONGRASS BEEF SUMMER ROLLS
Is anyone else absolutely obsessed with Vietnamese Summer Rolls? I just can’t get enough, especially now that I know how easy they are to make at home! These Lemongrass Beef Summer Rolls are so so flavorful and include all the best flavors including herbs fresh from our backyard garden – thai basil, mint, and cilantro, I’m looking at you!
These summer rolls feature a classic recipe for lemongrass marinated beef, but you could easily substitute the beef for chicken or pork or even tofu if that’s what you prefer. The options here are pretty endless, and maybe next time I’ll do something a bit more creative.
But for now, I just wanted a taste of my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in my kitchen.
Start by dipping the rice paper wrapper directly into a pie plate or tin filled with water. This only takes a few seconds – if you overdo it it makes it a lot more likely to become an awkward sticky mess, so brief is key!
Wrap low – start by adding your main ingredients to the lower half of the rice paper (see Step 1). I started with the lettuce and kind of filled everything else into the lettuce. This seemed to work really well. I finished it off by stuffing the middle with fresh herbs.
If you want the little decorative herbs to show on the exterior like I have line up 1 basil leaf sandwiched between 2 mint leaves and place at the top half of your rice paper wrapper. (This is definitely optional if you don’t have the extra herbs, or just don’t want to fuss, but it does make them pretty!).
Finally, wrap by pulling the base of the rice paper wrapper tightly over the filling. Next, fold in the edges, and roll the whole thing toward the top. You can see how this works in Step 2 and Step 3.
Lemongrass Beef Summer Rolls
Notes on the Peanut Sauce
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My peanut sauce recipe is lightly adapted from Damn Delicious. It’s simple and easy and most of the ingredients you’ll have on hand, or can easily find at the store. I particular love the addition of Chili Garlic Sauce made by the same brand that makes the classic Sriracha. It’s tangy, garlicky, and not too spicy. And makes the peanut sauce really pop, in my opinion.
Also, the texture. So if you microwave all the ingredients together and notice that everything kind of look like a weird oily mess, don’t worry, this is totally normal. Adding a tablespoon or 2 of warm water will help make the sauce creamy again. Just whisk this in and be prepared to be amazed! Instantly creamy texture!
Lemongrass Beef Summer Rolls
These Lemongrass Beef Summer Rolls are one of my absolute favorite recipes to come out of the kitchen this summer. I hope you guys give them a try!
