Fresh Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Fresh Spring Rolls are the perfect recipe to turn an ordinary meal into a hands-on, interactive experience. Made with rice paper wrappers, vermicelli noodles, and a vibrant rainbow of fresh veggies, these rolls are light, flavorful, and endlessly customizable. Best of all, they’re a fantastic way to involve kids in the kitchen, giving them the opportunity to practice knife skills, explore new flavors, and create their very own culinary masterpieces.
These fresh spring rolls, also called salad rolls or summer rolls, are kind of a blend between Thai spring rolls and Vietnamese spring rolls.
Typically Thai spring rolls include more veggies but only use Thai basil as an herb. Vietnamese spring rolls tend to have more protein like pork belly or shrimp in them but also have a blend of herbs like cilantro, basil, and mint. (There are also fried versions, too!)
Since I went with a vegetarian option filled with veggies and all the herbs with a Thai inspired peanut dipping sauce, this is kind of a mix between both versions.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Interactive Fun: Lay out the ingredients family-style and let everyone create their own rolls—it’s dinner and an activity in one!
- Colorful and Healthy: Packed with fresh, crunchy veggies, these spring rolls are as nutritious as they are beautiful.
- Kid-Friendly: This recipe is a great opportunity for kids to practice slicing, rolling, and assembling their food.
- Customizable: From veggies to proteins, everyone can build their roll just the way they like it.
- Quick and Easy: Perfect for weeknights, this recipe comes together with minimal cooking and lots of hands-on fun.
Discover your next culinary adventure
If you love the interactive fun of fresh spring rolls, there are plenty of other globally-inspired recipes to explore with your family:
- Slow Cooker Pork Ramen: This easy to make ramen is full of flavor but so fun for kids to customize.
- Cheeseburger Salad: I know, I know, a salad. But kids LOVE this salad and its easy to customize.
- South African Bobotie: Another customizable meal bursting with fresh, bold flavors. Probably my favorite meal on this site ever!
Each of these recipes offers a chance to bring the world to your table while creating meaningful family moments. Where will your culinary adventure take you next?
These Rainbow veggie spring rolls aren’t just a feast for the eyes—they’re a celebration of diversity, creativity, and individuality. With their vibrant array of colors, they symbolize the beauty of the LGBTQ+ community and the importance of embracing and honoring every shade of who we are.
This June and July, as part of my Dinners for a Difference campaign, I’m proud to support the Trevor Project, an incredible organization providing life-saving resources and support to LGBTQ+ youth. By making this recipe, you’re not just sharing a delicious, healthy meal with your family—you’re also opening the door to conversations about kindness, acceptance, and the value of diversity.
Let these spring rolls be a reminder that just like their rainbow of colors, our differences make us stronger, more beautiful, and more connected. Together, we can nurture curiosity and empathy, one meal at a time.
How can you help?
Every visit to this recipe post this month helps support that mission, making your family dinner a part of something bigger. The more you visit this post, share this post with your family and friends, or leave a rating will help spread this soup as far as possible. The more views we get, the more impact we can make together!
How to make kid friendly rainbow spring rolls
These make a great interactive meal for the family! Here is a brief overview of what you need and how to make these, but for the full set of directions and ingredients, please scroll down to the recipe card below.
Ingredients you need:
- Rice paper wrappers
- Vermicelli noodles – these are super thin rice noodles (“Vermicelli” means “little worms” and this is exactly what these noodles look like!) that are almost clear before cooking but will turn white once cooked.
- A rainbow of fresh veggies julienned or sliced
- Optional proteins: shrimp, tofu, or shredded chicken
- Fresh herbs: cilantro, mint, and basil (use Thai basil if you can find it!)
- Peanut dipping sauce (or another sauce of your choice like sweet chili sauce)
Instructions:
- Prepare Your Ingredients:
- Cook the vermicelli noodles according to package instructions, then rinse under cold water.
- Make the dip and let it sit and cool at room temperature while you prep the veggies.
- Slice all the veggies into thin, julienned strips for easy rolling.
- Set the Table Family-Style:
- Arrange the noodles, veggies, herbs, and proteins on a large platter or in individual bowls.
- Fill a shallow dish with warm water for dipping the rice paper wrappers.
- Build Your Rolls:
- Dip a rice paper wrapper into the warm water for 10–15 seconds, then place it on a flat surface.
- Add a small handful of noodles, veggies, and herbs to the center of the wrapper. Make sure everything stays in the center of the wrapper in a horizontal line.
Folding the spring rolls:
Fold the the sides of the wrapper in over the fillings, then fold the top of the wrapper down over the filling, and roll it up tightly.
Dip and Enjoy:
Serve the rolls with peanut dipping sauce or another condiment like sweet chili sauce.
Tips for Getting Kids Involved
Fresh vegetable spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce are a fantastic recipe to encourage kids to explore new flavors while building kitchen confidence. Here’s how to get them involved:
- Practice Knife Skills: Let older kids help slice soft veggies like cucumbers or bell peppers with a kid-safe knife.
- Explore Colors: Ask younger kids to build a rainbow roll by including something from every color on the table.
- Taste Test: Encourage kids to try their rolls with and without the peanut dipping sauce. Which do they like best?
- Customize with Confidence: Let kids choose their ingredients and experiment with flavors—it’s a great way to foster independence and creativity.
Love and links are always appreciated! If you’d like to share this post, please link to this post directly for the recipe, please do not copy and paste or screenshot. Thanks so much for supporting me! xoxo
Fresh Spring Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
Peanut dipping sauce
- ⅓ cup peanut butter
- 3 Tablespoons water
- 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 garlic clove minced finely
Spring Rolls
- 1 package Vermicelli rice noodles
- 2 mangos peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 carrot peeled and julienned
- 1 cucumber julienned
- ½ red cabbage thinly sliced
- 1 bunch mint
- 1 bunch basil
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1 package spring roll rice wrappers
Instructions
- Peanut Dipping Sauce
- In a small saucepan, combine the ingredients together over medium low heat, stirring constantly, just until it comes together in a sauce. It doesn’t need to cook, just warm enough to come together.1/3 cup peanut butter, 3 Tablespoons water, 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 Tablespoons soy sauce, 2 Tablespoons honey, 1 Tablespoon sesame oil, 1 garlic clove
- Add more water if you want it thinner.
- As it sits, it might thicker or separate a little, just stir it really good to get it to come back to a nice smooth sauce.
- Spring rolls
- Cook the Vermicelli noodles according to package directions, making sure to rinse with cold water.1 package Vermicelli rice noodles
- Julienne the produce and chop the herbs.2 mangos, 1 carrot, 1 cucumber, 1/2 red cabbage, 1 bunch mint, 1 bunch basil, 1 bunch cilantro
- Fill a dish with quite warm (but not hot) water.
- Dip the rice roll wrappers into the warm water for 10-15 seconds, ensuring the whole thing is covered under the water.1 package spring roll rice wrappers
- Remove from the water and place on a cutting board.
- Full the middle third of each wrapper with a small amount of the Vermicelli noodles, and strips of the vegetables and herbs. Do not overfill, and make sure everything you put in the center stays in a nice horizontal line.
- Fold in the sides of the rice roll wrapper over the ends of the filling ingredients.
- Fold down the top of the rice roll wrapper so that the folded sides are tucked in and the fillings are covered.
- Continue to fold/roll the roll together until it is sealed all the way.
- Repeat with the remaining rolls, and then enjoy with the dipping sauce.
