green pepper, cut into long matchsticks
1 red pepper, cut into long matchsticks
1 cucumber, cut into long matchsticks
Romaine lettuce leaves
6 ounces Asian rice vermicelli noodles
Round rice sheets
Sprigs of cilantro and/or Thai basil, mint
For Peanut Dipping Sauce:
1 small piece of lemon grass, chopped
Freshly grated ginger-to taste
1 cup water
½ cup hoisin sauce
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1½ tablespoons sugar
1. Chop all of the veggies and set aside.
2. Boil and drain noodles per package instructions. Cool under water. Set aside.
3. One at a time, soak rice sheets into warm water to soften. Use a shallow dish or pie plate for this step. Lay a rice sheet on a towel covered work surface. Working quickly, place some noodles, vegetables, lettuce, and a few herb leaves on the near side of the rice round. Roll mixture forward (in egg roll fashion) one revolution then add additional vegetables. Tuck ends inward and finish the roll. Continue making rolls until ingredients are exhausted.
To make the peanut dipping sauce: In a small sauce pan, simmer lemon grass in the water for 5 minutes, strain out the lemongrass and add the remaining ingredients to the water. Whisk well and simmer an additional 5 minutes. If the sauce doesn’t thicken, whisk for one minute over medium heat. Pour into individual serving cups and serve with spring rolls.