The jig is up.
It’s time to introduce some new snacks around here. Don’t you think?
You probably don’t believe I can survive on peanut butter–slathered bacon and margaritas alone, right?
Don’t answer that.
I do, which is half the problem.
Anyhow — I made something fresh.
Strawberry chunks. Mango matchsticks. Kiwi cubes. Delicate translucent rice-paper wraps. A sticky vanilla-honey dip.
Fun, right? Different? Non-boring? Colorful? I needed a little of that in my life.
Fresh mint adds a bright note. Are you one of those people who bites a mint leaf and chews it? I totally am — some days it’s the only leafy greenery I absorb.
The best snacks come together in minutes. Chop, wrap, dip, and you have a satisfying bite.
One caveat:
Working with rice paper wrappers can be tricky. They stuck to my hands, tore, or alternated between too wet and too dry. My solution was to double-wrap the rolls — that made them sturdier. If you have more experience with rice paper, you might prefer a single layer, but doubling worked well for me.
Be patient with the wrappers and you’ll be fine.
Tropical Kiwi Strawberry Spring Rolls
adapted from Veg Times
Makes 6 or 12 rolls, depending on whether you double-wrap
Ingredients
- 12 rice paper wrappers
- 1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries
- 2 firm bananas, chopped
- 1 mango, cut into matchsticks
- 3 kiwi, chopped
- A handful of fresh mint leaves
Note: Double wrapping yields about 6 rolls; a single wrapper yields about 12. The amount of fruit will vary with how full you make each roll. As a guideline, I used roughly a tablespoon of strawberries, kiwi and banana per roll, 6–8 mango sticks, and 2–3 mint leaves. Adjust to taste.
Instructions
- Fill a large baking dish with warm water.
- Dip one rice paper wrapper into the water very briefly — less than five seconds — then lay it on a clean surface and gently pat dry with a paper towel.
- If double-wrapping, lay a second wet wrapper on top.
- Place the fruit in the center of the wrapper: mango on the bottom, then add strawberries, banana and kiwi. Add chopped or whole mint leaves as you prefer.
- Fold up the bottom of the wrapper and tuck it under the fruit, fold in both sides like a burrito, then roll to seal. The damp wrapper should stick to itself.
- Serve whole or slice in half at an angle. Offer the vanilla-lime honey dipping sauce alongside.
Vanilla Lime Honey Dipping Sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean (optional)
- Zest of one lime
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth. Adjust lime zest or vanilla to taste.
Pretty simple, colorful, and fresh — the kind of snack that makes a small change feel like a treat.