I make these summer rolls whenever I want food that looks impressively healthy but requires zero heroic stove skills — rice paper wrappers, crisp veggies, herbs, maybe shrimp if I’m feeling fancy, and a peanut dipping sauce that will make everyone act like it was your idea. They’re fresh, portable, and somehow satisfy the crunchy/creamy craving without setting off the smoke alarm. Try them because they’re fun to assemble, impossible to mess up (unless you dunk the wrapper for five minutes—don’t), and they make you look like a responsible adult at parties.

Once my husband decided to “help” assemble and thought the cold-soak method for rice paper meant dunking the whole stack in hot water. We ended up with one giant mush-sheet that draped over the counter like a weird edible tablecloth. The dog thought it was a new toy. I thought about divorcing my kitchen for an hour. We recovered, mostly by blaming the dog.

WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

Just drop your email here and I'll send it right away! Plus you'll get new recipes every week. Yes please!

🧡

MORE OF OUR FAVORITE…

Why You’ll Love This Easy Fresh Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

– They’re gloriously light but still crowd-pleasing — because salads shouldn’t be smug and boring.
– No stove required (unless you insist on adding grilled shrimp and then you’re extra).
– Customizable: veggies for the herbivore, shrimp for the pescatarian, and tofu for that one friend who judges everything.
– The peanut sauce is sneaky: tastes like you spent hours, but you actually spent about 10 minutes and judged fewer recipes online.

Time-Saving Hacks

– Shortcuts that work but feel a little wrong.
– Buy pre-shredded carrots and pre-washed herbs. Your future self will send you a thank-you note.
– Use store-bought rotisserie chicken if you want protein without pretending you roasted anything.
– Hacks to avoid dishes (because who washes those?).
– Assemble on a large baking sheet lined with parchment — you can fold it up and toss the mess.
– Use skewers to hold rolls closed so you don’t need a plate full of gluey sauce drips.
– The sneaky tricks you actually use when rushing.
– Stack wrappers and dampen only one at a time; the rest stay neat.
– Make the peanut sauce ahead and keep it in a squeeze bottle. Fewer bowls = less guilt.

Serving Ideas

– Serve with extra peanut sauce and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts for maximum crunch + pretension.
– Pair with a light beer or sparkling water with lime — or serve with wine if the kids drove you nuts.
– Make them into an appetizer tower for parties so guests feel like they’re dining at a very chill sushi restaurant.
– Keep it ridiculously simple: carrots, cucumber, herbs, and sauce. Nobody will notice the lack of microgreens.

What to Serve It With

– A simple green salad or edamame for crunch buddies.
– Cold vermicelli noodles if you want to fake that you were more ambitious.
– Pickled vegetables for a tangy contrast. (Because balance is a fancy word for lemon and vinegar.)

Tips & Mistakes

– Don’t over-soak: Rice paper gets floppy fast. Dunk, count to three, and work. Not a whole bath.
– Prep everything first: Once the first wrapper hits water, you’ll be assembling at Olympic speed.
– Herbs matter: Mint + cilantro = summer harmony. Skip them and your rolls will sigh sadly.
– Wrap tight enough: Loose rolls leak sauce and dignity. Tight, but don’t strangulate the filling.

Storage Tips

Store it in the fridge… if there’s any left. Cold midnight leftovers? Sometimes better than fresh.

Variations and Substitutions

Swap whatever you want—sugar ↔ honey, soy sauce ↔ tamari, or skip steps and call it “deconstructed.” It still counts.

Frequently Asked Questions

I can’t have gluten… will this still work?

Yep. Use tamari or coconut aminos. You’ll survive and still brag about it online.

Do I have to peel the pineapple first?

Unless you enjoy chewing bark… yes, peel it. Your teeth will thank you.

Can I use canned pineapple instead of fresh?

Sure. Just drain it well or enjoy syrup soup. Still tasty, though.

How sweet is this? Can I tone it down?

Absolutely. Cut the sugar—or don’t, and embrace the sugar rush.

What if I skip the sesame oil?

Then you’ll miss the nutty vibe, but relax—it’s still food. You’ll live.

Easy Fresh Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce