Spring Roll in a Bowl
Try this deconstructed spring roll in a bowl, loaded with crunchy veggies, zingy herbs, and the most delicious dressing, ever! Piled onto rice noodles, this quick & easy dinner goes together in a snap.
What I like about this recipe, is that you can easily customize it to suit your tastes. You can use any combination of veggies, switch up the noodles, or add your favourite protein to create your masterpiece.
How long does Spring Roll in a Bowl take to make?
It takes as long as your noodles take to prepare! My noodles took 10 minutes, so you can have your dressing made and all your vegetables chopped in that time.
Let’s talk about the ingredients for Spring Roll in a Bowl
Rice Noodles – These come in all shapes and sizes, so use whatever rice noodle you like or have available to you.
Dressing – The star of the show, in my opinion! You might think “that is A LOT of fish sauce,” and you’d be right. BUT it is so delicious my friends, you’ll have to trust me on this one! And please do not use bottled lime juice, as the freshly squeezed lime juice is so much more delicious.
Vegetables – Bright and crunchy vegetables are the best choice for this spring roll bowl.
Herbs – I used fresh cilantro, mint, and basil. These herbs give so much freshness to the bowl!
Protein – I used edamame, but you can use any protein you prefer.
Can I Make Substitutions?
Dressing – “But Lulu, I hate/can’t find fish sauce!” OK ok, I hear you. Substitute ¼ cup of smooth peanut butter + 1 tablespoon soy sauce and reduce the sugar to 1 tablespoon. It won’t be quite the same, but it will still be delicious! If you’re going in this direction, add some hot sauce like sriracha as well!
Protein – I think this spring roll bowl would be excellent with some grilled prawns as an added protein! I used edamame beans in this recipe for my protein addition. You could also do grilled chicken, marinated and grilled tofu, or whatever your heart desires.
Noodles – Can’t find rice noodles? Maybe you don’t like them? Instead, try soba noodles, or a pasta noodle like spaghetti or angel hair. If you’re avoiding the carbs, you can use shirataki noodles (just rinse them very well).
Vegetables – Use the vegetables that YOU like; it’s your dinner! I used cucumber, red bell pepper, jalapeño, carrot, and avocado. You might want to try radishes, different peppers, snow peas, shredded napa cabbage; anything with a good crunch will do. I would avoid soft veggies such as tomatoes, or cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or brussels sprouts. While they are delicious, their flavour would overpower this dish.
Can this Spring Roll in a Bowl recipe be Gluten-Free?
Yes! By using rice noodles, and ensuring your dressing ingredients are gluten-free, I would say this is an excellent gluten-free dinner.
Can this Spring Roll in a Bowl recipe be Low Carb?
Yes! If you substitute low carb shirataki noodles for the rice noodles, and use lower carb veg, you have a low carb dinner.
The Spring Roll in a Bowl Method
The first thing I do is figure out the directions to make the rice noodles. Each brand and style of noodle has a different preparation, so make sure you read the package directions. Once I get that started, I move on to the dressing.
I use a food processor for the dressing. A blender or nutribullet or the like would work as well. Into the blender go all the ingredients, and they get blitzed up until smooth. The dressing will look very runny, but that’s OK! The noodles soak up a good deal of the dressing.
Then I chop all the vegetables into matchstick size pieces, and chop up the herbs.
Assembly of the spring roll bowl is easy, just pile in some noodles, your vegetables and herbs, and pour on your dressing. Using a protein? Add it in and then toss it all together, and garnish with sliced avocado and sesame seeds if you got ‘em.
Spring Roll In A Bowl
Equipment
- 1 food processor or blender
- 1 Large pot
- 1 sharp knife
- 1 Cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 7oz Package rice noodles or 198g
Dressing
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 1/3 cup lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 1/3 cup neutral oil such as grapeseed oil
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Protein
- 1/2 cup edamame beans prepared
Vegetables & Herbs
- 1 small handful fresh cilantro
- 1 small handful fresh mint
- 1 small handful fresh basil
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 carrots
- 2 small cucumbers or one large
- 1 jalapeño pepper
Optional toppings
- 1 avocado sliced
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare rice noodles according to the package’s directions.
- In a food processor, process all the dressing ingredients. Set aside.
- Prepare the protein you are using (if using).
- Cut all the vegetables into matchstick size and chop all the herbs.
- Assemble the bowl: Divide the noodles into four bowls. Divide the vegetables and herbs equally into the four bowls. Add your protein (if using). Pour over the dressing. Toss the ingredients together. Top with your optional toppings.
- Enjoy!
Notes
If you liked this recipe, you may also like Thai Peanut Chicken Bowl.
