Craving a taste of spring in every bite? These vibrant spring rolls burst with fresh, seasonal flavors like crisp asparagus, sweet snow peas, and creamy goat cheese, all drizzled with a zesty lemon-mint dressing.
Discover how effortlessly you can create this culinary delight!
About
I'm super excited to share my take on this spring salad. It's a vibrant, fresh dish that's perfect for showcasing spring vegetables. I think you'll just love it!
We're making a western-style salad, think awesome flavors and colors blending together. I always think of it as a celebration of fresh, seasonal produce. This isn't just any salad – it's like a fancy party is happening in your mouth!
I love how versatile this salad is. It doesn't matter whether you're serving it at a BBQ or a formal dinner; it just works. Seriously, you can pair it with anything, and it'll be amazing! Many people create similar dishes using rice paper wrappers for a different take.
I think we can whip it up in no time. Prep is about 10 mins and cook time is only 5 minutes, which leaves you more time to enjoy it, I think, or catch up on your favorite show!
Ingredients
For this awesome spring salad, I've put together a list of ingredients that'll make your taste buds sing! You'll need 3 bunches—about 24 spears—of asparagus. Don't forget 120g of snow peas; string them, please!
Grab one head of baby gem or cos lettuce—that's romaine—and wash it well. Two cups of peas, fresh or frozen—I won't judge—are next! Now, for something special: 90g of goat's cheese! Or, you know, feta if that's your jam.
Finally, a cup of fresh mint leaves—tear them roughly. For the lemon dressing, I like to use 1 tsp of lemon zest, 2 tbsp of lemon juice and 6 tbsp of virgin olive oil. Salt and pepper—just a pinch of 1/4 tsp—to make it perfect! Isn't that wild?
Instructions
First, I bring a large pot of water to a boil—we're going to blanch some veggies!
I add the snow peas, and I boil them for one and a half minutes. Next, I toss in the asparagus spears; they get the same one-and-a-half-minute bath! I then add the frozen peas—just thirty seconds or until it's simmering and they're bright green. Preparing these spring rolls offers an alternative way to enjoy the refreshing flavors found in Vietnamese lettuce wraps.
Drain immediately! I refresh them under cold water to stop the cooking.
Now, I dry the asparagus and snow peas with paper towels, leaving the peas in a colander. Blotting is important because water dilutes the dressing.
I split larger lettuce leaves. I cut asparagus on a slight angle, too! Next, I shake dressing ingredients in a jar—easy peasy!
I combine everything in a bowl, dress, and toss!
Arranging on a platter is next. Finally, I top with goats cheese. Time to serve!
Recipe Notes
There are a few things I should note! First, for the asparagus, just snap off the ends – they'll break at the right spot, I promise! If they're being stubborn, you might need to cut them. Any crisp lettuce works, but baby cos looks pretty. Don't stress too much!
Frozen peas work great here. I won't tell anyone if you don't use fresh. Hehe!
Now, about the cheese. Goats cheese is fantastic, but feta, mozzarella (torn, not sliced!), or even blue cheese—if you're feeling wild—would be amazing!
When you are arranging the salad on a platter, hold back half the peas. Otherwise, imagine this: they all fall to the bottom! You want to make sure things are pretty!
Short Recipe Version
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Serving Size: 6
Ingredients:
- 6 spring roll wrappers
- 1 cup shredded cabbage
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup cooked vermicelli rice noodles
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 green onion, chopped
- 2 oz cooked protein (shrimp, chicken, or tofu)
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions:
- Combine cabbage, carrots, noodles, soy sauce, sesame oil, green onion, and protein in a bowl.
- Moisten a spring roll wrapper.
- Place 1/6 of the filling in the center of the wrapper.
- Fold sides inward, then roll tightly from the bottom up.
- Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Fry spring rolls until golden brown (about 2-3 minutes per side).
Nutrition Information (per serving, estimated):
- Calories: 150
- Protein: 7g
- Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 14g