Tofu Veggie Spring Rolls

Yield 6

Pillar of Nutrition Lean on Protein, Eat the Rainbow

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Tofu Veggie Spring Rolls

Our classes love working with the rice paper wraps to create these fresh, nutritious rolls.

Ingredients

• Spring rolls and filling
• ½ lb. extra firm tofu, sliced in thin, 2” matchsticks
• 1 cucumber
• 1 carrot
• 15-20 mint leaves
• 1 small head lettuce, such as butter, little gem or green leaf, washed and dried
• 6 sugar snap peas
• 6 spring roll rice papers
• Dipping sauce
• 1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced OR 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 inch knob of ginger, grated
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 teaspoon chili sauce, or to taste

Directions

1. Spring Rolls
2. Pat the tofu strips with paper towels if necessary.
3. Prepare the vegetables: Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, scoop the seeds then cut into 2 inch matchsticks.. Cut the carrot in 2 inch matchsticks. Pull the lettuce leaves apart and make a pile of 2 inch leaves or pieces. Cut the sugar snaps into thin strips lengthwise of about 2 inches. Put all the filling items into small piles so you are ready to go!
4. Using a large plate, wet a round spring roll paper until completely covered in water. Wait 1-2 minutes, until you can no longer see the textured pattern and it is see-through.
5. Put spring roll paper on a clean, dry plate or cutting board. Lay down a small lettuce leaf then stack small amounts of the tofu and veggies in the middle of the round paper, all facing lengthwise in the same direction. The pile of veggie / tofu fillings should make a rectangle shape, with a long side and a short side.
6. Take 2 opposite edges of the spring roll paper closest to the short side of the vegetable tofu filling and fold inwards.
7. Lift the edge of the spring roll paper closest to you and wrap over all filings, rolling it away from you until you meet the opposite end.
8. To serve, cut each spring roll in half and place on a plate with a small puddle of dipping sauce.
9. Dipping Sauce
10. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Taste the sauce and adjust the sweet, salty, sour elements to your liking. Set aside.

Notes

Substitution and variations

• Add cooked rice vermicelli noodles
• Use basil or cilantro in place of the mint, or any combo of these herbs
• Use other types of protein such as cooked shrimp or pork
• Try other crunchy veggies like jicama or bell pepper
• Try a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes in the dipping sauce for zip

Something to Chew On

• What country consumes the most fresh spring rolls?
• What other fillings would you like in spring rolls?