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Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls

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Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls are a healthy meal or appetizer that can be customized with your favorite fillings and paired with a creamy peanut sauce.

Three rice paper rolls on a wooden board with basil garnish.

Rice Paper Rolls may look intimidating to make, but with a few tips and some practice, you can be a pro!

These shrimp rice paper rolls are actually easier to make than Fried Spring Rolls, and bonus are healthier too.

I still love fried spring rolls for special occasions or parties, but Rice paper rolls are perfect for a light meal, especially when it’s hot outside and you want something cool and fresh.

Rice Paper Wrappers

You’ll need to get rice paper wrappers or spring roll skins. I have been able to find these at a few local grocery stores, but you can definitely find them at an Asian Grocery store.

Three ladies brand rice paper package.

The wrappers need to be rehydrated with some water. I initially wrote that you needed warm water to soften the rice paper, but after many attempts, room temperature water works best!

The key to preventing the rice papers from breaking apart is to quickly rehydrate them just until they get wet and don’t be tempted to leave the wrapper in the water too long.

Filling Ingredients

For these Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls, I used cooked shrimp, lettuce, sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, green onion, and Thai Basil.

Shrimp, green onions, Thai Basil, carrots, lettuce, and cucumber on a plate.

You can make these meatless, by omitting the shrimp or adding crispy tofu to the rolls. I’ve also made them with rotisserie chicken and grilled meat.

Other options can be cooked rice noodles, shredded cabbage, edamame, and even fresh fruit for a sweet/savory version. Get as creative as you want with these rice paper rolls.

How to Make Rice Paper Rolls

Have your protein and vegetables prepped and ready to go before you start rolling the rice paper rolls. I also make the dipping sauce first so it’s ready when the rolls are done.

If you are a visual learner, watch the video in the recipe card to see how to roll.

Two shrimp rice paper rolls, with one sliced in half to show the filling inside.

Dip the rice paper into the water, just until all the areas are wet, then remove and place on a cutting board. It will still feel stiff at this point.

Place all your filling ingredients towards the bottom of the wrapper. I like to place the veggies first then the shrimp after the first roll. But it’s not necessary.

Carefully roll the bottom over the filling ingredients and then the sides. Keep rolling tightly all the way up to create a seal.

They don’t need to look perfect, but once you practice it will get easier 🙂

Peanut Dipping Sauce

My absolutely favorite part of rice paper rolls is the dipping sauce. This is the same sauce I use for my Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps. It’s so good I even use it as a dip for veggies!

These are the add-ins for the Peanut sauce along with substitutions.

Peanut butter, siracha, fish sauce, rice vinegar, and honey in little bowls.

Creamy Peanut Butter– Substitute with any nut butter or Sun butter for a nut-free version. If your peanut butter was refrigerated, then you’ll need to warm it in a microwave safe dish for about 15 seconds to get it softened.

Honey– Substitute with Agave syrup or granulated sugar.

Rice Vinegar– Substitute with apple cider, regular vinegar, or fresh lime/lemon juice.

Fish Sauce– Substitute with soy sauce or liquid aminos.

Sriracha Sauce– Substitute with your favorite hot sauce or omit for no spice.

Overhead view of 3 rice paper rolls on a round board with a small bowl of peanut dipping sauce.

Rice Paper Rolls are best eaten immediately after making them. If I need to make a large quantity, then I will have all my ingredients prepped and sauce made first.

The rolls will stick together if you stack them. To prevent this, try weaving a piece of plastic wrap in between each roll and place in a large dish.

Check out these Thai Appetizer recipes:

Feature image of shrimp rice paper rolls on a wooden board.

Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce Recipe

Renee
Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls are a healthy meal or appetizer that can be customized with your favorite fillings and paired with a creamy peanut sauce.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Share by Text
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 Rolls

Ingredients
  

  • Room temperature water
  • 6 Rice Paper Skins
  • 18 Medium Shrimp (fully cooked)
  • 6 Lettuce leaves
  • 1 Cucumber Sliced into strips
  • 1 Carrot Shredded
  • 3 Green Onion
  • 1 bunch Thai Basil Leaves

Thai Peanut Dipping Sauce

  • ¼ cup Creamy Peanut Butter Or any kind of nut butter
  • 1 tablespoon Honey Or Agave syrup or 1 tsp of granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon Rice Vinegar Or apple cider, regular vinegar, or fresh lime/lemon juice.
  • ½ teaspoon Fish Sauce or Soy Sauce or Liquid Aminos
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha Hot Sauce Or your favorite hot sauce or omit for no spice.
  • 2-4 tablespoon Water Add 1 Tbsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.

Instructions
 

Peanut Dipping Sauce

  • Combine all the ingredients in a bowl for the peanut sauce. If the peanut butter is refrigerated you'll need to microwave it for 15 seconds or so to get it softened. Add water 1 Tbsp at a time and keep whisking until desired consistency is reached. Set aside.

Rice Paper Rolls

  • Season shrimp with salt and pepper and cook in a skillet until no longer opaque. Set aside to cool.
  • Wash, peel, and slice cucumber and carrot. Wash lettuce, green onion, and basil leaves. Set aside on a plate.
  • Place water in a dish or bowl that can be dipped with the rice paper wrapper.
  • Dip rice paper wrapper into water and move around till all sides are wet. When you remove it from the water it should still have some structure to it. The rice paper will soften as you are rolling it.
  • Place wet rice paper on a plate or cutting board and your fillings on top. Fold the bottom over and make a tight wrap, then fold the sides in and continue rolling up.
  • Rice paper rolls are best eaten immediately.

Video

Notes

Rice Paper Rolls are best enjoyed right after making them. If you need a make ahead option, then prep all the filling ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble them. 

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 9gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 437mgPotassium: 284mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 3702IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only and depends on ingredients and amounts used. Thai Caliente makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Keyword Fresh Spring Rolls, Shrimp Rice Paper Rolls
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6 Comments

  1. I made this! Added cut up chicken since I had some. I did make the peanut sauce and unfortunately It didn’t taste as good as it looks! This was probably the only one of your recipes where I wouldn’t make the peanut sauce again:/

    1. I appreciate the feed back, Marilou. I’ve noticed different brands of peanut butter can have different consistency. If it wasn’t as smooth I would recommend adding more water and microwave for about 20 seconds, or put it in a skillet over low heat. You also have to whisky it really good to get everything incorporated. Hope that helps!